ICD-10-CM TRANSITION – BENEFITS OF ICD-10-CM
As of January 1, 2012, there are 639 days until ICD-10-CM replaces ICD-9-CM code sets.
ICD-10-CM will provide the ability to report greater clinical detail than ICD-9-CM. Terminology and disease classification will be updated to be consistent with current clinical applications. This new system will be better serve the patient by more accurately measuring patient care, improving safety, and tracking public health risks. Because of the ability to report better clinical detail, ICD-10-CM should also reduce the need to send attachments to a payer to explain a patient’s condition. It is also expected that this new system will be used to prevent and detect health care fraud and abuse.
The ability to report conditions in more detail comes with a greater need to understand how the codes are set up. Future PRC Medical/Streamline MD newsletters will provide clarity as to how these codes are structured.