New coding tool designed to help with ICD-10 transition

Worried about the transition from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), to ICD-10? A new Web site is designed to ease the process for you and other healthcare providers by…

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ICD-10 implementation efforts continue to drag

Procrastination continues to run rampant when it comes to the ICD-10 transition. The latest evidence comes courtesy of survey results unveiled this week by healthcare revenue IT vendor Health Revenue…

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New coding system coming to Medical Center Hospital

Ector County Health District officials unanimously passed a measure Tuesday night to fund training to accommodate a switch in the system in which they process diagnosing and procedure codes to…

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ICD-10 Best Practices

When Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) first proposed the one-year delay of the compliance date for the transition to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), it estimated savings of billions to the healthcare industry.

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ICD-10: I42.- Requires More Cardiomyopathy Details Than 425.4 Does

Tip: A diagnosis that falls under an ICD-9 ‘other’ code may have its own ICD-10 code.

Under ICD-9, when the manual doesn’t offer a code specific to your diagnosis, you usually choose one of the catch-all “other specified” codes available, such as 425.4 (Other primary cardiomyopathies). When you start applying ICD-10 codes in October 2013, you may find that your catch-all code has been divided into more specific options. Here’s how the ICD-10 counterparts for 425.4 will look.

ICD-9 coding rules: Cardiomyopathy literally means disease of the heart muscle and can refer to many types of heart disease. ICD-9 offers one code for “other” primary cardiomyopathies: 425.4. It’s appropriate for cardiomyopathy NOS, congestive, constrictive, familial, hypertrophic, idiopathic, nonobstructive, obstructive (but see 425.1 for hypertrophic obstructive), and restrictive. Code 425.4 is also appropriate for cardiovascular collagenosis.

ICD-10 changes: ICD-10 divides your options for “other” cardiomyopathy among three codes:

  • I42.2, Other hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
  • I42.5, Other restrictive cardiomyopathy
  • I42.8, Other cardiomyopathies.

Code I42.2 will be appropriate for other cardiomyopathy: hypertrophic, nonobstructive. Code I42.5 will be appropriate for other cardiomyopathy: restrictive, constrictive NOS. Code I42.8 is appropriate for any other cardiomyopathies not listed elsewhere, including newborn and obscure of Africa, as well as cardiovascular collagenosis.

Caution: Check the index and full I42.- range in the tabular list before choosing an “other” code. For example, several of the diagnoses that fall under 425.4 in ICD-9 do not fall under the “other” cardiomyopathy codes in ICD- 10. Specifically, obstructive cardiomyopathy is coded to I42.1 under ICD-10, congestive falls under I42.0, and familial and idiopathic fall under I42.9.

Remember: When ICD-10 goes into effect on Oct. 1, 2013, you should apply the code set and official guidelines in effect for the date of service reported. Learn more at www.cms.gov/ICD10/ and www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd10cm.htm#10update.

Be ready...

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Pick Up on PIN III’s Trail in Index

Question: I have a path report that says “PIN III.” My problem is that the report also says “carcinoma was not identified,” so I’m confused about what to report. Which ICD-9 code is best?  Answer: With a diagnosis of PIN III, you should repo...

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ICD-10: A J Code To Replace 471.0 In 2013

Nasal cavity polyp also goes by the term “choanal” and “nasopharyngeal.” If the otolaryngologist performed a removal of a middle turbinate endoscopically, you would report it with CPT 31240 — subsequently linking this procedure to a diagnosis...

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ICD-10: Here’s How To Report Hiatal Hernia In 2013

When ICD-9 becomes ICD-10 in 2013, you’ll need to get familiar with different sections in the new diagnosis code system, even if the condition you’re reporting has a simple one-to-one crosswalk. When your surgeon performs a hiatal hernia repair, yo...

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ICD-10: 2 New H Codes To Take Place Of 366.16 in 2013

When ICD-9 becomes ICD-10 in October 2013, the diagnosis codes you’re accustomed to reporting will no longer exist. Many diagnosis codes will include more details than their current counterparts, and some sub-codes of the same family will even move t...

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Ob-gyn Coding Challenge: Deliver Postpartum V Codes With Care

Bonus: Get exposure to ICD-10 coding equivalents.

Question: A mentally-challenged patient who delivered at home was admitted to the hospital for postpartum care. The patient delivered the placenta at home, and once admitted, she had no complications, but the ob-gyn

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