ICD-10....why?

[orangeman25]

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Coding is already hectic in hospitals and clinics as it is, why is ICD-10 being fully implemented come October? Some of the coding is quite silly and won't it just create more busy work? I don't get who is making the money from this.

 

[LizzyM]

Here's the AMA's opinion which is as a good as any.

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/phy...ction-code-set-standards/icd10-code-set.page?

Why is ICD-9 being replaced?
The ICD-9 code set is over 30 years old and has become outdated. It is no longer considered usable for today’s treatment, reporting, and payment processes. It does not reflect advances in medical technology and knowledge. In addition, the format limits the ability to expand the code set and add new codes.

The ICD-10 code set reflects advances in medicine and uses current medical terminology. The code format is expanded, which means that it has the ability to include greater detail within the code. The greater detail means that the code can provide more specific information about the diagnosis. The ICD-10 code set is also more flexible for expansion and including new technologies and diagnoses. The change, however, is expected to be disruptive for physicians during the transition and you are urged to begin preparing now.

 

[mimelim]

Uh, I need to be able to bill for "Struck by macaw" (W6112XA) and "Burn due to water-skis on fire" (V9107XA). It is all about getting paid.

 

[LizzyM]

@mimelim How will we know about the dangers presented by macaws unless we document them? 😉 These are international and so some codes not common here might be useful elsewhere. It is about getting paid and usable data.

 

[Ismet]

There were a couple of patients I had this past month whose specific diagnoses were not in ICD-9, so we had to bill a related, more general problem that wasn't really accurate. Not sure how that factors in the great scheme of things bc I still have a lot to learn about medical billing, but it definitely was annoying.

Edit: usable data! Thanks LizzyM!

 

[DOctorJay]

https://www.change.org/p/u-s-house-of-representatives-put-patients-before-paperwork-stop-icd10
act now or get ready

 

[gjitec]

EHR will handle a lot of the complexity as time goes on. In a computer science standpoint, I think it makes sense to have a more robust coding scheme.

It's a standard. We just have to deal with it.

 

[caffeinemia]

I really hope there's something like pecked by bird of paradise.

 

[ridethecliche]

I'm just waiting till it goes to 11.

Because 11.

 

[NickNaylor]

V97.33XD: Sucked into jet engine, subsequent encounter

 

[breakintheroof]

I know what I want for Christmas: ICD-10 Illustrated

 

[ridethecliche]

I'm just waiting till it goes to 11.

Because 11.

Really guys?

 

[Psai]

What makes less sense than having this convoluted system of coding is forcing doctors to spend time inputting bull**** into the EMR for documentation and billing purposes instead of as notes as a reference for themselves and other doctors

 

[LizzyM]

What makes less sense than having this convoluted system of coding is forcing doctors to spend time inputting bull**** into the EMR for documentation and billing purposes instead of as notes as a reference for themselves and other doctors

It is all about BIG DATA.