ICD 10 Codes

New Text module

ICD 10 Codes ICD-10-CM incorporates much greater clinical detail and specificity than its processor. With this, the modern classification system will provide much better data required for measuring the quality, safety and efficacy of care, conducting research, epidemiological studies and clinical trials, and lots more. It will also improve clinical, financial and administrative performance.

In addition to all this, there are a lot of other changes in ICD-10-CM. The added changes that can be found in ICD-10-CM are: injuries are grouped by anatomical site rather than by type of injury. What's more, category restructuring and code reorganization have taken place in a number of ICD-10-CM chapters, resulting in the classification of certain disease and disorders contrary to ICD-9-CM. The new system will help prevent and detect health care fraud and abuse and also help track public health and risks.

To find additional information about ICD-10-CM and ways to bridge from ICD-9 to ICD-10 codes , sign up for one-stop medical coding websites. When you sign up for one, you'll have access to code look up tools like the ICD-10 Bridge(ICD-9 to ICD-10). This tool tells you the CMS suggested code that maps an ICD-9-CM volume 2 code to an ICD-10-CM Volume 2 code and vice versa. You should also check if a more specific code could apply.

For instance, suppose you want to map an ICD-9-Cm code 642.71. When you enter this code in the tool, you'll get the following ICD-10-CM codes:

O11.1 Pre-existing hypertensive disorder with superimposed proteinuria, first trimester

O11.2 Pre-existing hypertensive disorder with superimposed proteinuria, second trimester

O11.3 Pre-existing hypertensive disorder with superimposed proteinuria, third trimester

So what are you waiting for? Go sign up for such a website today and see how it makes your coding life so much easy. When you do so, the October 1, 2013 transition may not look that difficult and well within your reach.

Accurate 01996 Reporting: Here's How

Know when 01996 is valid.

The descriptor for 01996 (Daily hospital management of epidural or subarachnoid continuous drug administration) appears easy enough on the surface, but can get complex in real-life coding. Read on for following three scenarios and know how to handle each situation for an error-free ICD-9 coding.

Global Periods Assist Steer Your 01996 Use

Scenario 1: Your physician lately inserted an intrathecal pump, which is a essentially three-day inpatient stay. You code the implant on the first day, but require using a code for everyday management of the intrathecal pump on respectively the second and third days. You used to report 01996, but lately started having difficulties getting it paid. Medicare also says 01996 is general to the stay. How do you handle this for an error free ICD-9 coding?

Solution: You must start by verifying the global period for the service you're possibly coding. Code 62350 (Implantation, revision or repositioning of tunneled intrathecal or epidural catheter, for long-term medication administration via an external pump or implantable reservoir/infusion pump; without laminectomy) has a 10-day global period. In case the pain management specialist is carrying out 62350, then all services linked to the catheter in the 10-day period following are covered in the initial fee.

Watch LCDs for State-Specific Directions

Scenario 2: The physician examines a patient on the hospital floor and gives epidural catheter placement and management on different days. The documentation is a restricted handwritten progress note in the chart. The coder should define whether the note is sufficient documentation and requires suggestions on how to talk with the physician about improved documentation in the future.

Solution: If you want to ensure accurate ICD-9 coding , you must check the LCD for 01996 in your own state. The documentation necessities should be listed there, and then you can forward that to your physician as they frequently want to see things in writing.

Tip: In case your state doesn't have an LCD for 01996, you must check other areas.

Look for Services on Removal Day

Scenario 3: When is it suitable to bill 01996 for the last day of management as well as catheter removal? You are divided between using 01996 or 99231 (Subsequent hospital care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient, which requires at least 2 of these 3 key components ...) as no bolus is given, however the documentation doesn't meet the E/M requirements.

Solution: Billing 01996 on the day of catheter removal rests on whether the physician offers any other services for the patient that same day. In case the physician eliminates the catheter and doesn't offer any other services, never report an additional charge (catheter removal is an expected service). For a perfect ICD9 codes, remember that in case your physician offers other services and decides to remove the catheter the subsequent day, you can then report 01996 for the day the services were carried out but not the day of removal.