When it comes to ICD-10-CM/PCS, coders may be the hardest and most directly hit employees. Laura A. Shaffer, PhD, and Monica Lenahan, CCS, explain how hospitals may be lagging behind in terms of actually managing the change for these individuals.
If you think you’ve estimated the right amount of training time for ICD-10-CM, you probably should increase it. Cindy Grant, CHIM , Shannon E. McCall, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-I, CEMC, CCDS, Gloryanne Bryant, BS, RHIA, RHIT, CCS, CDIP, CCDS, and Melanie Endicott, MBA/HCM, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, explain why organizations will need to plan additional hours of training for ICD-10-CM.
The added specificity of ICD-10 may require coders to learn more about disease processes and terminology in order to code accurately. Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC, reviews some medical terms coders should know and steps to take to improve communication between providers and coders.
Body mass index (BMI) reporting is becoming more important as a diagnostic tool for providers, and ICD-10-CM will expand the ability to accurately report it. Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC , looks at documentation concerns and coding concepts for BMI in both ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM.
Combination codes in ICD-10-CM will allow coders to report pressure ulcer location and severity in a single code. Jaci Johnson Kipreos, CPC, CPMA, CEMC, COC, CPC-I, and Betty Hovey, CPC, CPC-H, CPB, CPMA, CPC-I, CPCD, review the stages of pressure ulcers and which information coders will have to look for in documentation.
Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC, explains how reporting multiple gestations will change in ICD-10-CM, including greatly expanded specificity and replacements for V codes from ICD-9-CM.
Betty Hovey, CPC, CPC-H, CPB, CPMA, CPC-I, CPCD , looks at common dermatology conditions, including non-pressure chronic ulcers and psoriasis, as well as new concepts coders will need to look for to report these conditions in ICD-10-CM.
Cross-training coders has definitive short-term advantages, such as enhancing staff coverage during holidays and vacations and increasing the department's ability to handle periods of fluctuation in certain bill types. But coding managers might not realize that these benefits can also help hospitals with long-term preparation for ICD-10. Angie Comfort, RHIT, CCS, and Rose T. Dunn, MBA, RHIA, CPA, FACHE, explain the benefits of cross training coders as ICD-10 approaches.
Deborah Grider, CPC, CPC-I, CPC-H, CPC-P, CPMA, CEMC, COBGC, CPCD, CCS-P, CDIP, senior manager at Blue and Company in Indianapolis, an industry expert on ICD-10, provides preparation tips and action steps for ICD-10 implementation.
