Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about ICD-10

We’ve created this resource in an effort to help our customers get ahead of the 2013 ICD-10-CM mandatory implementation date for this new and complex set of codes. Here you’ll find answers and solutions to frequently asked ICD-10 related questions, as well as the latest ICD-10 news and updates. Do you have specific questions about ICD-10? Submit your question below and one of our experts will respond to you as soon as possible and if we think it will be helpful to others, we'll post the Q&A here. As always, it is our commitment to provide you with the best coding tools, information, and training.
 
 

Since HTN will not be specified as benign, malignant or unspecified in ICD-10, is there a code to indicate when hypertension is uncontrolled?

No, there will not be a code to identify when hypertension is uncontrolled; I10 will be the only code available unless it is complicated by heart or renal disease due to hypertension or when the hypertension is due to an underlying condition (e.g., renovascular, endocrine, or other secondary hypertension) or it is documented that it is related to pregnancy. In that case, check the Alphabetic Index to make there is not a better code that can be used with the available documentation.


Solution:

The 2010 Advanced Anatomy and Physiology for ICD-10-CM/PCS can help conquer the learning curve for ICD-10-CM/PCS. It takes the user through all of the body systems that ICD-10 uses and gives specific details about how ICD-10-CM/PCS is used to identify the appropriate diagnosis/condition. The organization of chapters by body system covers this pertinent coding information for using ICD-10-CM in a very straight-forward presentation. The material can be used in a group setting for educational purposes or as a self-education study tool. A quiz is available at the end of each section to test your knowledge of ICD-10.

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What is the meaning of the alpha character in ICD-10?

In the ICD-10 code set, the alpha character has a different meaning depending on where it is placed within the code. The first alpha character in every ICD-10-CM code identifies in what chapter it is placed. For example, "A" and "B" (A00-B99) are for the "Certain Infectious Diseases" chapters and "C" and half of the "D" chapters (C00-D49) for "Neoplasms".

In the middle of the ICD-10-CM are alpha characters. Here they do not have a specific meaning; they just expand the code set to allow for more codes.

When placed at the end of a code, it usually means "episode of care". For example, A = initial encounter, B = subsequent encounter, S = sequela. Another alpha character explanation at the end of the code will identify different types of fractures and/or the episode of care of a fracture.

ICD-10-PCS is different. Each of the characters in the ICD-10-PCS system has a specific meaning. If you go through the code set, you will find that under every character (1-7), each character will mean something different depending on the placement of the character.

Solution:

The  ICD-10-CM, 2010 Draft includes the entire ICD-10-CM code set, as well as ICD-10 official guidelines for coding and reporting. Our version of the ICD-10-CM draft is prepared in a manner that parallels the ICD-9-CM code book so that using it feels easy and familiar.

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Why is the ICD-9-CM coding system being replaced?

The ICD-9-CM coding system has become outdated and obsolete. The 9th revision cannot describe diagnoses accurately with the level of detail needed for the reporting purposes of our health care system. Identifying and capturing health care data is used for tracking trends, analyzing quality, comparing and evaluating outcomes from different treatment methods, and comparing statistics internationally.

Many countries have already moved to ICD-10-CM, making diagnosis coding incompatible with the United States. The ICD-9-CM system is also hampered by a lack of available places left for expansion within the diagnostic categories as future updates are made.

Solution:

Understand how to prepare your organization for the most important coding update in a generation by taking our Understanding and Preparing for ICD-10-CM/PCS online course. This 3 hour course will teach you how to dissect key differences in code length, alpha-numeric characters, and documentation requirements. You’ll also learn how ICD-10-CM will expand the detail relevant to ambulatory and managed care encounters, changes in timeframes specified in certain codes, reclassify external cause codes, and much more. This course has been approved for 3 CEUs by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

 

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Why is ICD-10-CM better than ICD-9-CM?

The ICD-10-CM coding system provides a significantly increased amount of options for coding medical diagnoses that reflect modern medical knowledge and terminology. The increased availability of codes allows for much greater precision and specificity within the choice of diagnosis codes. ICD-10-CM also has built-in flexibility for future expansion to add new codes for medical diagnoses.

Solution:

Thousands of our customers are interested in getting ahead of the mandatory implementation date in 2013 for ICD-10-CM. We’ve taken the unwieldy and confusing internet version and presented the data the way you have been used to seeing diagnostic codes. The ICD-10-CM, 2010 Draft includes 7th character icons to help you identify the codes that require a 7th digit to ensure specificity and validity, updated tables and indices, the entire ICD-10-CM code set, and ICD-10 official guidelines for coding and reporting. Our version of the ICD-10-CM draft is prepared in a manner that parallels the ICD-9-CM code book so that using it feels easy and familiar.

              
 

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Is the structure of ICD-10-CM much different from ICD-9-CM?

The actual coding process remains the same and there are some similarities, such as a valid code always contains at least 3 characters and a decimal is used after the third character, but there are also distinct differences:

 

Solution:

Solution:

The ICD-10-CM, 2010 Draft includes 7th character icons to help you identify the codes that require a 7th digit to ensure specificity and validity, updated tables and indices, the entire ICD-10-CM code set, and ICD-10 official guidelines for coding and reporting. Our version of the ICD-10-CM draft is prepared in a manner that parallels the ICD-9-CM code book so that using it feels easy and familiar.

 

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How many diagnosis codes are there in ICD-10-CM compared to ICD-9-CM?

ICD-10-CM has approximately 68,000 codes compared to 15,000 in ICD-9-CM. The 2010 update implemented around 4,000 changes to the ICD-10-CM system.
 

Solution:

The  ICD-10-CM, 2010 Draft includes the entire ICD-10-CM code set, as well as ICD-10 official guidelines for coding and reporting. Our version of the ICD-10-CM draft is prepared in a manner that parallels the ICD-9-CM code book so that using it feels easy and familiar.

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What do I need to do to get up to speed on ICD-10-CM?

Coding with ICD-10-CM requires a more advanced knowledge of anatomy and physiology as well as more detailed documentation and an understanding of what must be included in the medical record documentation to be able to assign the correct diagnosis code.

The use of teaching tools like Advanced Anatomy and Physiology for ICD-10-CM/PCS can help conquer the learning curve for coding with ICD-10-CM. The book’s organization of chapters by body system covers this pertinent coding information for using ICD-10-CM in a very straight-forward presentation. The material can be used in a group setting for educational purposes or as a self-education study tool. Context Media’s version of the ICD-10-CM draft is prepared in a manner that parallels the ICD-9-CM code book so that using it feels easy and familiar.

Solution:

The 2010 Advanced Anatomy and Physiology for ICD-10-CM/PCS can help conquer the learning curve for ICD-10-CM/PCS. It takes the user through all of the body systems that ICD-10 uses and gives specific details about how ICD-10-CM/PCS is used to identify the appropriate diagnosis/condition. The organization of chapters by body system covers this pertinent coding information for using ICD-10-CM in a very straight-forward presentation. The material can be used in a group setting for educational purposes or as a self-education study tool. A quiz is available at the end of each section to test your knowledge of ICD-10.

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Have a question about ICD-10 that you would like our team to answer?

Submit your ICD-10 question below and one of our experts will respond to you within 72 hours.

Staff:

Lauri Gray, CPC, RHIT  has worked in the health information management field for 30 years. She began her career as a health records supervisor in a multi-specialty clinic. Following that she worked in the managed care industry as a contracting and coding specialist for a major HMO. Most recently she has worked as a clinical technical editor of coding and reimbursement print and electronic products. She has also taught medical coding at the College of Eastern Utah. Areas of expertise include: ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure coding, physician coding and reimbursement, claims adjudication processes, third-party reimbursement, RBRVS and fee schedule development. She is a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and holds Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and Registered Health Information Technologist (RHIT) credentials.

Lori Becks, RHIA is a clinical technical editor for Contexo Media. She has 9 years of clinical editing experience within the medical coding field. Her areas of expertise include both ICD-9-CM and CPT/HCPCS coding. She has served as a coding specialist at the University of Utah Hospital and as an assistant director of health information management. Her background also includes teaching English as a second language and technical writing. Ms. Becks is an active member of the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and has attended AHIMA’s Academy for ICD-10: Building Expert Trainers in Diagnosis Coding in April 2010.

Bonnie G. Schreck, CCS, CPC, CPC-H, CCS-P, has been in health care for 25 years.  She started in the field in medical records at an HMO, and then worked at a major University teaching facility, billing, then coding, ED, outpatient and inpatient visits.  She has worked at the AAPC as a Coding Manager and with a major health care data company, having responsibility for specialty and other coding reference books and healthcare coding content.  She has also performed many seminars and audits for hospitals and physicians, mainly on ICD-9-CM and ICD-10, CPT and HCPCS coding.  Bonnie currently is the Director of Clinical Content at Contexo Media, where she manages coding books and healthcare data content.  She is a member of AHIMA and the AAPC.