ICD-10 will be here in 2014. What are you doing to prepare for this massive change?
ICD-10 will be here on October 1, 2014 and we will be going from 17,000 ICD-9 codes to 68,000 ICD-10CM codes. These new ICD-10CM codes will bring with them new structure and more specificity, such as laterality, episode of care (initial, subsequent or sequel), fracture type and trimester, to name a few. With this additional specificity in the ICD-10CM code comes the additional need for more detail in the provider's documentation. So for example if a patient presents to your orthopedic office with a fracture of the forearm, the following are the ICD-10CM codes and the level of specificity necessary to code the visit:
- S52 Fracture of the forearm
- S52.5 Fracture of lower end radius
- S52.52 Torus fracture of lower end radius
- S52.521 Torus fracture of lower end of right radius
- S52.521A Torus fracture of lower end of right radius, initial encounter for closed facture
You can see that the code ultimately gets very specific and the provider's documentation within the chart note will need to be specific.
So, where do you begin? Have you started with any training?
We have added an ICD-10CM Primer to our initial course offering. The content in this module is a valuable introduction to ICD-10, and is suitable to all practice employees. This course is free to our clients and their employees. Just have your administrator notify us that you would like the module added to your account.
Additionally, we are now offering an in-depth ICD-10CM training course. It will assist providers, clinical staff, and billing office employees in gaining an understanding of ICD-10CM guidelines, structure and organization. Please contact us to discuss how we can provide this valuable information to your employees at a reasonable cost.