ICD-10 Codes - How to Make the Transition Smoothly

The transition from ICD 9 to ICD 10 is going to• Diagnosis codes are important elements of
be interesting. In the near future, medicalmany electronic systems like practice
professionals in the US, presently using ICD-9management and EHRs.
medical diagnosis codes will need to update this• Moreover, diagnosis codes are also key to
system. The WHO has updated this system tomany health insurance coverage policies and are
include a better classification of recognizedused in pay-for-reporting and
diseases and compatibility with today's medicalpay-for-performance initiatives.
data recording practices.• While many conventions of ICD-9 code carry
These codes have been created to help improveover to ICD-10, there'll be a need for physicians,
the healthcare community by offering a morecoders, and billers to learn the correct use of the
comprehensive system of medical informationnew code set.
that is consistent around the world. In order thatThese points indicate that the transition will involve
the US maintain effective health informationmany processes within and outside your practice.
exchange on a more global level, it's vital forAs such you need to be armed properly and
medical facilities and others to start adoptingcoordinate with hardware and software vendors,
ICD-10 codes.claims clearing houses and payers. There are
In order to understand the scope of this change,various ways you can prepare yourself for the
here are a few key points that you shouldtransition. One way to go about it is by signing up
consider:for an audio conference. Going for one will help
• There are around 69,000 diagnosis codes inyou stay tuned to what you need to do to make
ICD-10 as compared to around 14,000 diagnosisa smooth transition. And in case you have missed
codes in ICD-9 codes 2010.the date with a scheduled audio conference, there
• While ICD-9 codes contain 3-5 digits, ICD-10are CDs and MP3s that you can avail of.
codes contain 3-7 digits.