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ICD-10

What is ICD-10

What does ICD 10 mean and how will it impact your practice?

ICD-10 is a clinical diagnostic coding system virtually every country in the world outside of the United States. ICD-10 is not just a simple coding update but a completely overhauled system consisting of new codes and more in depth code descriptions, replacing the current ICD-9 medical code set which. ICD-10-CM medical codes expand the current ICD-9-CM code base by nearly nine times, from 13,600 codes to more than 120,000 new medical codes. Additionally, code structure increases in complexity, moving from predominantly numeric three to five digit ICD-9 codes to mixed alphanumeric ICD-10 codes that can contain up to seven digits.

Comparing ICD-9 Vs ICD-10

ICD-9	ICD-10
3-4 numbers in length	7 alpha-numeric characters in length
*Approximately 3,000 codes	*Approximately 87,000 available codes
Based on outdated technology	Reflects current usage of medical terminology and devices
Limited space for adding new codes	Flexible for adding new codes
Lacks detail	Very specific
Lacks laterality	Has laterality
Generic terms for body parts	Detailed descriptions for body parts
Lacks descriptions of methodology and approach for procedures	Provides detailed descriptions of methodology and approach for procedures
Lacks precision to adequately define procedures	Precisely defines procedures with detail regarding body part, approach, any device used, and qualifying information

* This chart compares procedural codes only and does not include diagnostic codes.

This increase in complexity and sheer number of medical codes requires automated code management features within medical practice management software and billing software in order to improve productivity and accuracy of medical coding professionals.roductivity standards may have to be redefined, requiring more medical coding staff

Need to retrain existing staff and pay to send medical coders back to school
Medical providers have to change how they document, more detailed diagnosis information require
Each organization needs to develop an implementation plan

Impact

The provider encounter documentation will have to expand in terms of diagnosis detail in order to support this new level of medical coding; this is expected to cause a huge impact on medical provider habits
Medical billing coders will have to be retrained, as there is no one-to-one relationship for many codes
Changes will impact medical coding operations, software systems, reporting, administration, registration and more.

Timeline

There will be a transition period prior to the October 1, 2013 go-live date, during which medical providers will have to submit either ICD-9 or ICD-10 codes, depending on the medical payers' readiness. Medical practices will have to upgrade to the new 5010 electronic claims and transaction code requirements from the existing 4010 1A in order to accommodate the expansion in the ICD-10 codes. Health plans, medical health care clearinghouses, covered health care providers, and business associates are required to be compliant by January 1, 2012

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