Radiology Coding Alert

Abnormal imaging findings will lead you to an all new code range in ICD-10.The Oct.1, 2013, implementation date for ICD-10-CM creeps ever closer, making preparation more important every day. Getting comfortable with the new code set requires a close look at those codes that don't have a precise one-to-one match with ICD-9-CM. The corresponding codes for 784.2 show precisely why paying attention to exclusion lists will be so important when the new codes become effective.ICD-9-CM: Code 784.2 (Swelling mass or lump in head and neck) applies to the signs described in the definition and also has this inclusion list: "Space-occupying lesion, intracranial NOS." ICD-10-CM: ICD-10-CM offers one code for a head-related diagnosis and another for the neck:R22.0, Localized swelling, mass and lump, headR22.1, Localized swelling, mass and lump, neck.If you check general equivalence mappings (GEMs), you'll see that ICD-9 code 784.2 doesn't just cross to R22.0 and R22.1, however. Code [...]