ICD-10-CM Chapter 19 codes for injury, poisoning, and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88) demonstrate the specificity inherent in the new coding system. Betsy Nicoletti, MS, CPC, and Shannon McCall, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-I, CEMC, CCDS, dig into the details of codes for injuries and underdosing.
Although ICD-10-CM resolves some problematic areas of coding, it isn't a panacea. Respiratory insufficiency is one diagnosis that will continue to challenge coders.
Some conditions, such as gangrene due to diabetes, require two codes to correctly report in ICD-9-CM. In ICD-10-CM, coders will only need one code. Jennifer Avery, CCS, CPC-H, CPC, CPC-I, and William E. Haik, MD, FCCP, CDIP, explain how these combination codes act as their own CC or MCC in ICD-10-CM.
The transition to ICD-10-CM is coming. The only question is when. Despite the delay, coders and other HIM professionals must continue to prepare for the transition.
Editor's note: With the increased specificity required for ICD-10-CM coding, coders need a solid foundation in anatomy and physiology. To help coders prepare for the upcoming transition, we will provide an occasional article about specific anatomical locations and body parts as part of a larger series for ICD-10-CM preparation. This month's column addresses the anatomy of the thigh.
Spinal conditions can be congenital, pathologic, or traumatic, and they can affect the vertebrae, spinal cord, muscles, nerves, discs, or a combination of the parts of the spine.
As coders have prepared for ICD-10-CM, they have raised questions about how to select the correct seventh character. Nelly Leon-Chisen, RHIA, and Jennifer E. Avery, CCS, CPC-H, CPC, CPC-I, AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainer, offer tips for determining the correct seventh character.
Coders may find assigning codes for sepsis somewhat easier in ICD-10-CM, but they will still face some challenges. Ann Barta, MSA, RHIA, CDIP , and Shannon E. McCall, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CCDS, detail how to report sepsis in ICD-10-CM.
ICD-10 will allow coders to report nonspecific, unspecified, or not otherwise specified (NOS) codes, but experts say doing so will be counterproductive because of the specificity inherent in the new system.
The seventh character in an ICD-10-CM code represents either the fetus (for pregnancy codes), or the encounter (for injuries and burns). Jennifer E. Avery, CCS, CPC-H, CPC, CPC-I, Gretchen Young-Charles, RHIA, and Nelly Leon-Chisen, RHIA, review guidelines for correct seventh character selection.
