Get Prepared For A New ICD-10 Code Set Started oct 2014

You would probably have been hearing about the implementation of ICD-10 for quite some time now, but till date medical offices continue to use the ICD-9 codes to describe diagnoses. But this is only until 1 October, 2014, when, after a number of hurdles and delays, ICD-10 will finally go into effect.
Need for the change
A number of ICD-9 codes have become outdated and their descriptors are also now obsolete. To keep current with the latest medical technology, procedures, and terminology, this 30-year old manual will now be replaced forever.
What do I use now?
You will continue to use ICD-9 manual until October 2014. This code set comprises:

• Volume 1: This is a numeric list that classifies diseases by their cause (etiology) and their analysis (anatomy).
• Volume 2: This numeric list alphabetic index helps find codes in Volume 1.
• Volume 3: Used only by hospitals, this procedural classification has a tabular section and an index.

What is the difference between ICD-10 and ICD-9
Let's have a look at why the replacement is necessary and what changes you need to keep in mind before you start preparing yourself for the transition.

• The former will have two systems:
  • ICD-10-CM, which is the diagnostic coding system for all healthcare applications. It will replace ICD-9-CM volume 1 (the numeric list that classifies diseases by their cause (etiology) and their analysis (anatomy) and volume 2 (thenumeric list alphabetic index that coders use to find codes in Volume 1).
  • ICD-10-PCS, a procedural coding system that is for use only on in-patients. It will replace ICD-9-CM volume 3 (the procedural classification that has a tabular section and an index. This is generally used only by the hospitals.)
• ICD-9 has mostly numeric, 3 to 5 digits codes; however, the new code set has alphanumeric codes and contains 3 to 7 characters, with the first character alphabetical. For example, if you need to lookup ICD-10 code for "hypertensive heart disease", your ICD-10 codes look up will show you these options:
  • I11—Hypertensive heart disease
  • I110—Hypertensive heart disease with heart failure
  • I119—Hypertensive heart disease without heart failure

Remember that you will have to use these along with your CPT® cardiology codes, or else your claim form would be incomplete and you will have to see a denial.

• ICD-10 also has laterality unlike ICD-9 code set. The characters in the former will identify when the treatment was performed on right or left side, whether it was an initial encounter or a subsequent encounter, and will also provide other clinical information. In the latter, you need additional documentation to prove these facts.

• Another big difference between the two is that there are only 13,000 codes in the current system, with no space to make any more additions, but the new system will have more than 68,000 codes. It has also been designed in such a manner that it is flexible for addition of new codes.