ICD-10-CM is the updated version of the ICD-9-CM code set currently used for coding diagnoses on all health care standard administrative transactions. The ICD-9 code set was developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and  has been in widespread use since 1988. The WHO produced an updated version, ICD-10, in 1992. The ICD-10-CM code set expands diagnosis codes by a factor of five, enabling greater specificity in the coding of diagnoses.

All physicians, other health care providers, and health plans are required to use the ICD-10-CM code set as the standard code set for coding diagnoses on all HIPAA standard transactions on October 1, 2015.

Begin with the Painless ICD-10 webinar February 18 at 11AM. Diagnostic coding is used everywhere from the front desk  through the coding, billing and reporting process. Look at how diagnosis coding is used inside and outside of your office, and how that is communicated with labs, imaging, hospitals, PCP or specialist referrals. 

Armed with this information, you can plan.  If you have not yet begun to transition your practice to using ICD-10, below is a timeline for a medical practice just starting the process:

 

February - Assess the effects 

 

March - Begin to plan and seek resources

 

April - Create training programs

 

May - Discuss transition with vendors & payers

 

June - Explore your new systems internally

 

July - Fix any problems

 

August - Go for it! Expand to external use, and document and code using ICD-10.  Aim to practice the entire month of August so you can fix any problems by September

Click to Continue...