The change from ICD 9 codes to ICD 10 codes has brought with it many confusing problems and complicated matters for healthcare providers and insurance carriers. Indeed, the newest code set has a lot of important differences when compared to the previous ICD-9 code set, including an expansion from five different positions, with the first being alphanumeric, and the others numeric, to seven positions. The newer codes currently use alphanumeric characters in all positions, not just in the first digit.
In the following, we will address some of the most important changes that have emerged in the transition from ICD 9 codes to ICD 10 codes.
The ICD-10 Code Diagnosis Set:
The latest version of the ICD diagnostic code set, which is the ICD-10, includes 68,000 different codes for procedures and services across the medical industry. This is a huge upgrade from the previous 13,000 codes in the ICD-9. The new code set also represents a significant upgrade in the specificity of reporting certain factors, which means that more information can be conveyed through the use of a code.
At the same time, it's worth noting that the changes from ICD 9 codes to ICD 10 codes include a modernization in the terminology that remains consistent across the entire set. There are codes that use a combination of symptoms and diagnoses, to ensure that fewer codes need to be reported in order to properly describe a condition.
Concerns In The Transition From ICD 9 Codes To ICD 10 Codes:
One of the most important concerns prevalent in the recent change is that there has been no simple translation or mapping to maneuver from the former set to the latter. Though there are some correspondences, there are many differences and this means that the new code should be classed as a huge implementation in the medical industry. In order to fully understand the ICD 10 codes and what they represent, medical bodies are being forced to undergo a brand new set of training.
Obviously, some people are unhappy with this turn of events, as it means that extra time must be devoted to learning the new code sets and portions of information. However, the various benefits that come with the shift to ICD 10 codes was deemed significant enough to allow for the inconvenience of additional training.
The Characteristics Of ICD 10 Codes:
The practice of medicine has seen a number of important changes over the last twenty-five years, including the discovery of new conditions and the development of new treatments. Even new types of medical devices have been brought into service. The ICD 9 code set was not developed in a way that could capture all of this progress, which means that it has become outdated.
The new codes allow for greater detail and expansion, which means that they are much better at describing the practice of medicine as it stands today. What's more, the newer code set is more consistent from one chapter to the next, which can make it a lot easier to understand and follow.