ICD 9 codes effective Oct 1 fewer in number than previous years
An acronym for International Classification of Diseases, ICD-9 is a numeric diagnostic code used by insurance companies to determine whether to pay for a medical test, treatment or procedure. The 9th edition is the most recent one, with ICD 10 slated for 2013.
The new ICD-9 codes effective October 1, 2009 are fewer in number than previous years. But with the increasing emphasis on medical necessity and complete documentation and appropriate assignment of ICD-9 codes, these codes bring with it added complexities for the coder.
In June this year, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) expanded code category 488 to add two new codes:
• 488.0 (influenza due to identified avian influenza virus)
• 488.1 (Influenza due to identified novel H1N1 influenza virus)
To keep pace with the changes, it is very important that you have the most up-to-date copy of the ICD-9 manual if you are to code correctly. You can get the revisions in both print and electronic versions.
These codes are maintained by NCHS and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). You can get yourself a copy of updated manuals from these two organizations. You can also fall back on your billing software vendor to provide you the updates. That apart, you can also search the ICD 9 codes online.
However, the classifications in ICD-9 coding are at this point inadequate to track all the changes and improvements that have occurred in the health care sector. As such, ICD-10 is on its way which is going to be the new required standard in a few years time.
But till then, stay current and on top of all the ICD 9 code changes.
The new ICD-9 codes effective October 1, 2009 are fewer in number than previous years. But with the increasing emphasis on medical necessity and complete documentation and appropriate assignment of ICD-9 codes, these codes bring with it added complexities for the coder.
In June this year, National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) expanded code category 488 to add two new codes:
• 488.0 (influenza due to identified avian influenza virus)
• 488.1 (Influenza due to identified novel H1N1 influenza virus)
To keep pace with the changes, it is very important that you have the most up-to-date copy of the ICD-9 manual if you are to code correctly. You can get the revisions in both print and electronic versions.
These codes are maintained by NCHS and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). You can get yourself a copy of updated manuals from these two organizations. You can also fall back on your billing software vendor to provide you the updates. That apart, you can also search the ICD 9 codes online.
However, the classifications in ICD-9 coding are at this point inadequate to track all the changes and improvements that have occurred in the health care sector. As such, ICD-10 is on its way which is going to be the new required standard in a few years time.
But till then, stay current and on top of all the ICD 9 code changes.
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