Medical Coding Questionnaire
these are the noted for the exam it is timed i will have two hours to complete the test there will be 40 questions. i will post questions when i pick the tutor
ext Readings
Comprehensive Health Insurance: Billing, Coding, and Reimbursement, Chapter 5
Additional Readings
Required Readings
International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM)
Improving your ICD-10 Diagnosis Coding
Supplemental Readings
ICD-10
ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision)
Medical Coding Vocabulary and Key Terms
ICD-10-CM
Using ICD-10-CM
Supplemental Videos
Lecture Notes
UNDERSTANDING ICD-10-CM CODING
On October 1, 2015, the ICD-10-CM officially replaced the ICD-9-CM coding system. ICD-9-CM had been around for a while, and many found it a limiting system that didn’t really reflect expanded diagnoses and updated technologies. In the ICD-10-CM system, the codes have been greatly expanded to provide more detail. ICD-9-CM contained 13,000 codes, but the ICD-10-CM system has more than 68,000 diagnostic codes! Additionally, ICD-9-CM codes were numeric, but the expanded ICD-10-CM codes are alphanumeric and have been designed to allow for new codes to be added to them, which was one of the major problems with the ICD-9-CM system.
You may be feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of codes, but don’t worry! There are coding books as well as coding software that will help you understand codes and how to use and assign them. You’ll never be expected to memorize 68,000 individual codes. However, if you work with codes regularly, you’ll start to naturally memorize the codes you work with the most. It just happens.
The ICD-10 system also introduced changes for procedure codes. In addition to the ICD-10-CM diagnosis changes, ICD-10 also replaced the use of procedure codes in ICD-9-CM with ICD-10-PCS, where the PCS stands for Procedure Coding System Replacement. The ICD-10-PCS system is used for hospital inpatient procedures only.
BEFORE ICD-10: AN INTRODUCTION TO CODING
The International Classification of Diseases, or ICD, is the standard diagnostic tool for epidemiology, health management, and clinical purposes. It was created to
Monitor the incidence and prevalence of diseases
Keep track of health problems
Analyze the health of like groups
Report and provide statistics
Classify diseases
Provide for the storage and retrieval of diagnostic information
Record national mortality and morbidity statistics
Provide a system for reimbursement
Help providers understand resource allocation
ICD-9-CM stands for the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, and until its replacement with ICD-10-CM/PCS in 2015, it was the official system in the United States for assigning codes to diagnoses and procedures for hospital stays. It was based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) initial Ninth Revision, International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9). However, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are the U.S. government agencies responsible for overseeing changes and modifications to the ICD-9 and ICD-10. Though ICD-9-CM has already been replaced by ICD-10-CM/PCS, it’s important that you learn the basics of ICD-9-CM coding, as many healthcare facilities are still transitioning to the new system.
ICD-9-CM consisted of three volumes:
Volume 1: A numerical list of the disease code numbers in tabular form
Volume 2: An alphabetical index to the disease entries
Volume 3: An alphabetic index and tabular list of surgical, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures
ICD-10 is very similar to ICD-9 and consists of
Volume 1: Tabular lists containing cause-of-death titles and codes and inclusion and exclusion terms for cause-of-death titles
Volume 2: Descriptions, guidelines, and coding rules
Volume 3: An alphabetical index to diseases and nature of injury, external causes of injury, and table of drugs and chemicals
The ICD-9-CM coding system was originally published in the three volumes just discussed. Later editions separated the hospital and outpatient sections. The process of correctly coding diagnoses is challenging. In addition to the procedure of actually selecting the correct code from the code book, there’s a more significant element that we must discuss. The main point to remember (and this isn’t covered in your text) is that the quality of the information you receive from the physician is what determines the ultimate quality of the code. You must develop an effective communication system with your physician to obtain a correct and complete diagnosis, including all secondary and concurrent conditions. Effective communication between you and your physician can be accomplished by means of the patient’s chart, the encounter form, or other special forms used within the office. Whatever the method of communication, you must receive timely and accurate information from the physician. Try to remember that you and the physician are a team with the same goal of reimbursement.
The importance of accurate diagnostic coding can’t be stressed enough. Incorrect coding can have serious consequences, including lawsuits. It’s imperative that you have a system in place to obtain all the correct information from the physician before you code diagnoses. Once you have an accurate, written, and complete diagnosis from your physician, you can begin to find the codes.
This assignment begins by discussing the different types of diagnoses, including primary versus principal diagnoses. In some instances, a comorbidity diagnosis might be appropriate for certain patients.
Note that the term principal procedure applies only to a procedure performed for definitive treatment, rather than diagnostic purposes. Secondary procedures are additional procedures performed during the same encounter as the principal procedure. Be sure you understand the difference between these two terms.
In the ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding systems, various coding conventions (i.e., rules and methods), must be followed. Each volume of ICD-9 and ICD-10 has its own conventions. In the Tabular List (Volume 1), there are important features, such as bold type, braces, colons, and the terms NEC (not elsewhere classifiable) and NOS (not otherwise specified). Each of these conventions has a specific purpose. Learn what each convention means and how to interpret its use. The Disease Index (Volume 2) has boxed notes, cross references, eponyms (specific diseases, disorders, or symptoms that carry the name of a person), and bracketed codes.
Coding for special disorders such as HIV/AIDS, fractures, and late effects might be a bit more complicated. The term late effect means an adverse residual effect or sequela of a previous illness, injury, or surgery. The acute condition is gone, but the patient is still suffering some after-effects or even long-term chronic effects.
Both ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM also contain a Table of Drugs and Chemicals. This table uses generic drug names rather than brand names or manufacturers’ names. It’s used to identify the poisoning status and external causes of adverse effects directly caused by drugs and other chemical substances. To properly use this table, you must know the meaning of the terms poisoning (which involves either the use of the wrong drug/substance or the administration of an incorrect dosage) and adverse effects (pathological reactions following the ingestion of, or exposure to, drugs or other chemical substances).
It’s important to understand that although you’ll have a working knowledge of ICD-10 coding, the only way to become proficient is to practice and become comfortable with the terminology and using the manual. You’ll use the ICD-10 manual as part of your course.
It’s also important to remember never to code directly from the index. Too many times coders become lazy or are pressed for time and select a code(s) from the index. Coders who do this may not be coding to the highest level of specificity.
A coding tip for proper reimbursement is to code only those conditions that the physician is managing or that contribute to the condition. For example, consider the following scenario: A patient has a lower-leg ulcer that won’t heal and is also diabetic. The physician in this case should report the code for the lower-leg ulcer as the primary diagnosis and then supply the code denoting diabetes as the concurrent condition. However, suppose a patient with hypertension is admitted to the hospital by his internist for abdominal pain. The patient is then seen by a surgeon who determines that the patient has cholecystitis and then admits the patient for two days. The surgeon in this case would report cholecystitis, not hypertension, because it isn’t contributing to the cholecystitis and the surgeon isn’t managing that condition. Likewise, the internist would report the abdominal pain and possibly the hypertension if the internist was managing that condition for the patient. If the internist reports the cholecystitis on the claim as the diagnosis for any hospital visits, the claim might get denied for concurrent care because insurance payers usually don’t pay two physicians to manage the same problem.
You can see how important it is to become very familiar with the ICD-10-CM/PCS volumes and to have good communication with the physician. Coders who know where to find tables and special sections can work more quickly and accurately than those who take excessive time searching all over the book to find the correct sections. Spend your time wisely selecting the correct code, not fumbling through the book searching for a place to start.
BEGINNING TO CODE
As we’ve discussed, there are several separate systems for coding. The main coding systems are the ICD and the CPT systems. As you’ve just read, the ICD-10-CM/PCS volumes are now used to code diagnoses that describe the clinical picture of the patient and to report acute care procedures. The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) system is used by all healthcare providers (e.g., physicians, hospitals, and therapists) to report procedures and services performed. CPT codes are only one part of an entire coding structure known as HCPCS (Health Care Financing Administration Common Procedure Coding System, pronounced “HIC-pics”). We’ll discuss ICD-10, CPT and HCPCS in greater detail later in this lesson.
Diagnoses are diseases, disorders, symptoms, injuries, and conditions that bring the patient into the healthcare facility. The patient diagnosis is the reason the patient is being seen. There may be just one diagnosis, or issue, that brings the patient to the provider, or there may be multiple diagnoses that are being treated at one time. In this case, it’s the healthcare provider’s job to determine the condition that’s the number-one diagnosis that has brought the patient in. This is the principal diagnosis. Any additional conditions are then listed as secondary diagnoses.
It’s important for you to understand principal and secondary diagnoses because they affect how a claim is paid and may even cause claims to be denied. Something that seems simple, such as the order in which you list the diagnoses on a claim, can have major effects on reimbursement.
You may be wondering how the insurance company knows exactly how much to reimburse the hospital or doctor’s office for costs to treat the patient. Some of these costs are calculated by the diagnosis and procedure codes assigned by a trained coding professional. Coding is the process of reviewing medical documentation for the diagnoses and procedures related to a patient’s care, assigning the correct codes to the corresponding diagnoses or procedures, and then reporting them on the patient’s account.
RECOGNIZING ICD-9-CM CODES
ICD codes have a specific structure. The structure of ICD-9 codes is very different from the updated ICD-10 codes we use today. ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes are usually three digits. There can also be three digits, a decimal, and then one or two more digits. The digits after the decimal provide a higher level of specificity. Thus, ICD-9 diagnosis codes may have the following formats (where “X” is a digit):
XXX
XXX.X
XXX.XX
For example, if a physician documents congestive heart failure (with no further specification), the ICD-9-CM code is 428.0. However, if the physician documents congestive heart failure with acute systolic heart failure, the code is 428.21.
ICD-9-CM procedure codes are generally two digits, a decimal, and then one or two additional digits. Thus, procedure codes may have the following formats (where “X” is a digit):
XX.X
XX.XX
For example, 47.01 is the ICD-9-CM procedure code for laparoscopic appendectomy.
MOVING THROUGH THE CODING PROCESS
The codes that we’ve been discussing correspond to the written diagnoses or procedures reported by the healthcare provider in the patient’s health record. These codes are then reported on an insurance claim form for reimbursement. They’re grouped together so that they translate into a specific number and are mapped to a specific reimbursement amount. The insurance company then reimburses the provider that amount for the healthcare services provided to the patient.
Many people think that ICD coding is for diagnoses and CPT coding is for procedures. In fact, the ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS are for diagnoses and procedures, whereas CPT covers only procedures.
Appropriate reimbursement depends on the accuracy of coding. If a coder assigns incorrect codes, then the hospital or physician’s office won’t be fully reimbursed and will lose money.
If you’re not familiar with the coding and reimbursement process, then it may seem confusing to you initially. However, the more you work with the process, the easier it will become. Here’s an example of how coding is performed and reimbursement is assigned for a patient who has been discharged from the hospital:
A patient is discharged from the hospital.
The coder reviews the patient’s health record and reviews documents for relevant diagnoses and procedures for this patient’s stay in the hospital.
The coder enters the names of the diagnoses and procedures into a specialized coding computer program, using coding books as a backup when questions arise.
The computer program translates the names of the diagnoses and procedures into the corresponding numerical codes (ICD and/or CPT).
The computer program then groups all the codes into one numerical classification system and reports it on a claim form.
The claim form is sent to the insurance company for reimbursement. The insurance company then equates the numerical codes to a specific reimbursement payment amount.
The reimbursement is then sent from the insurance company to the hospital. In some cases, the insurance company may deny the claim and not pay the hospital, or it may ask for additional documentation to back up the codes reported.
UNDERSTANDING THE TYPES OF DIAGNOSES AND PROCEDURES
As we discussed earlier, the way that diagnoses and procedures are listed on a patient’s claim form can affect the way the provider is reimbursed. Let’s take a closer look at the different types of diagnoses and procedures:
Admitting diagnosis: The admitting diagnosis is the disease, illness, or trauma that brought the patient to the hospital. The admitting diagnosis isn’t necessarily the same as the principal diagnosis. For example, a patient may come to the hospital with chest pain, but the physician may find that the patient has pneumonia. The pneumonia is then listed as the principal diagnosis.
Principal diagnosis: The principal diagnosis is the diagnosis, after study, that the physician determines to be the cause of the patient’s admission to the hospital.
Principal procedure: The principal procedure is the procedure that’s performed to address the patient’s principal diagnosis. In some cases, the principal procedure may not be related to the principal diagnosis. For example, say that the patient came into the hospital for pneumonia. While in the hospital she fell and broke her hip and had to have surgery because of it. The principal diagnosis is still pneumonia, but the principal procedure is the hip surgery.
Comorbidities: These are additional conditions and illnesses that are present at the time of the patient’s admission to the hospital. They often complicate the treatment or prolong the patient’s stay in the hospital. Comorbidities are coded as additional diagnoses and are reported on the claim form. Some comorbidities increase the reimbursement from the insurance company because they’re more resource intensive (i.e., it costs more to treat a patient who has them).
Complications: Conditions or illnesses that develop after a patient has been admitted to the hospital and may prolong the patient’s stay in the hospital are referred to as complications. Complications are coded as additional diagnoses and are reported on the claim form. Some complications increase the amount of reimbursement from the insurance company.
NOTE: Comorbidities and complications are referred to as secondary diagnoses.
HISTORY OF ICD-10-CM
Many people have questioned the migration from the ICD-9-CM coding system to the ICD-10-CM coding system—especially those who have spent a great deal of time understanding, learning, and using ICD-9-CM.
Much has changed in the healthcare world since ICD-9-CM was introduced over 30 years ago, especially technology. A system was needed that reflected the changes that have occurred. Many have found that ICD-9-CM codes weren’t descriptive enough to reflect the changes in treatments and technology. It became clear that a new system was needed to provide accurate reimbursement for services provided and to deal with the tracking of quality processes and outcomes. ICD-10-CM was created to address all of these issues.
ICD-10 was actually endorsed by the WHO in 1990 and implemented on January 1, 1999, for use on U.S. death certificates for designation of the cause of mortality. However, many other countries have been using ICD-10 for reimbursement purposes since 1995.
When it became clear that the ICD-9-CM system was limited and outdated, work began on an ICD-10-CM system (where “CM” is the clinical modification of the ICD-10 system, just like it is in the ICD-9 system).
ICD-9-CM VERSUS ICD-10-CM
ICD-10-CM vastly expanded the number of codes over what was used in ICD- 9-CM. As was mentioned previously, the ICD-10-CM has more than 68,000 diagnostic codes, compared to 13,000 in ICD-9-CM. Additionally, ICD-10-CM includes twice as many categories and also introduces alphanumeric category classifications for the first time. All of this will help coders be more specific when reporting codes on the patient’s account. Visit the CMS website at https://www.cms.gov/ICD10 to learn more about ICD-10-CM.
To convert codes between the ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM systems, use the code translator tool at https://www.aapc.com/icd-10/codes/ .
Let’s take a closer look at the structural differences between the two coding systems. Table 1 provides a summary of the differences between the two systems.
TABLE 1—ICD-9-CM Versus ICD-10-CM
Code ElementICD-9-CMICD-10-CMNumber of digits3–53–7Numeric or alphanumericAll numbers
Alphanumeric:
Digit 1 is a letter.
Digit 2 is a number.
Digit 3 is a letter or a number.
Digits 4–7 are letters or numbers.
Decimal pointDecimal after third characterDecimal after third characterSupplemental codesFirst digits are letters (V and E codes)Combination codes include the external/supplemental causesExample: Fracture of unspecified part of right clavicle, initial encounter for closed fracture810.00S42.001A
NEW FOR ICD-10-CM
As we’ve discussed, the need for a higher level of specificity and better information was one of the driving forces behind ICD-10. With ICD-10-CM, you’ll see more information included in one code, whereas with ICD-9-CM it may have taken several codes to reflect the same information. Other changes for ICD-10- CM include
Support of directional terms such as laterally-right, left, and bilateral
Use of combination codes for conditions and associated symptoms, as well as for poisonings and external causes
Inclusion of trimester in obstetric codes
Use of the character “X” as a placeholder to allow expansion of future codes
Inclusion of clinical concepts (e.g., blood alcohol level, blood type, etc.)
Expansion of categories of codes to allow for great specificity
Designation of injury by anatomical site rather than just injury type
ICD-10-PCS
In addition to the ICD-10-CM diagnosis changes, ICD-10 also includes a system to replace the use of procedure codes in ICD-9-CM with ICD-10-PCS. PCS stands for Procedure Coding System Replacement, and the first version was actually released by CMS in 1998. It has been updated annually since. ICD-10-PCS codes are used only for hospital inpatient procedures. The ICD-10- CM/PCS system applies to physician offices, outpatient facilities, and hospital outpatient departments. These facilities also continue to use CPT codes on Medicare Fee-For-Service claims. We’ll discuss CPT coding later in this course. For now, let’s take a closer look at ICD-9-CM procedure codes versus ICD-10-PCS.
ICD-9-CM PROCEDURES VERSUS ICD-10-PCS
Let’s take a look at the structural differences between the ICD-9-CM procedure codes and ICD-10-PCS (Table 2). The ICD-10-PCS is used for inpatient hospital care only.
TABLE 2—ICD-9-CM Procedure Codes Versus ICD-10-PCS
Code ElementICD-9-CM ProceduresICD-10-PCSNumber of digits3–47Numeric or alphanumericAll numbersLetters or numbers:
Numbers 0–9 are used
The letters O and I aren’t used, to avoid confusion with numbers 0 and 1Decimal pointDecimal after second characterNo decimal
As with the ICD-10-CM codes, ICD-10-PCS expanded many codes and also allows for greater specificity of coding. Take a look at this example from the CMS:
ICD-9-CM: Angioplasty
1 code (39.50)
versus
ICD-10-PCS: Angioplasty
854 codes
Example ICD-10-PCS angioplasty codes:
047K04Z—Dilation of right femoral artery with drug-eluting intraluminal device, open approach
047K0DZ—Dilation of right femoral artery with intraluminal device, open approach
047K0ZZ—Dilation of right femoral artery, open approach
047K34Z—Dilation of right femoral artery with drug-eluting intraluminal device, percutaneous approach
047K3DZ—Dilation of right femoral artery with intraluminal device, percutaneous approach
ICD-10-CM created big changes for the healthcare industry, but it allows?code reporting to be more specific and accurate. ICD-10-CM replaced ICD- 9-CM diagnoses, and ICD-10-PCS replaced ICD-9-CM procedure codes for inpatient hospital procedures. However, HCPCS and CPT still remain the coding classification systems for outpatient procedures.
Visit the American Hospital Association for additional information on ICD-10-PCS at http://www.ahacentraloffice.org/codes/ICD10.shtml
Text Readings
ICD-10-PCS, pages 1–14
Additional Readings
Required Readings
ICD-10-PCS
Learning and Using ICD-10-PCS
Supplemental Videos
Lecture Notes
UNDERSTANDING ICD-10-PCS
ICD-10-PCS stands for International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Procedure Coding System. It’s the coding classification system used to track and report inpatient (hospital) medical procedures. This new system was developed to replace International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM), Volume 3, Procedures, which had been used for coding and reporting inpatient procedures since 1979.
Because medical terminology, diagnoses, and procedures change and become more detailed and specific over time, there’s a need for a new classification system. The ICD-9-CM classification system quickly became obsolete and outdated, and it became more difficult to accurately reflect the procedures performed. That’s why ICD-10-PCS was created.
ICD-10-PCS STRUCTURE AND FEATURES
ICD-10-PCS is a seven-digit alphanumeric code consisting of a combination of the numerals 0 through 9 and the alphabetical letters of A–H, J–N, and P–Z. (For example, for excision of the tonsils, open approach, the ICD-10-PCS code is 0CTP0ZZ.) The letters O and I aren’t used in the system to avoid confusion with the numbers 0 and 1. The procedures are divided into sections and categorized by the type of procedure performed. The first digit in the code always reflects the category.
The ICD-10-PCS code sections are as follows:
0: Medical and Surgical
1: Obstetrics
2: Placement
3: Administration
4: Measurement and Monitoring
5: Extracorporeal Assistance and Performance
6: Extracorporeal Therapies
7: Osteopathic
8: Other Procedures
9: Chiropractic
B: Imaging
C: Nuclear Medicine
D: Radiation Oncology
F: Physical Rehabilitation and Diagnostic Audiology G: Mental Health
H: Substance Abuse Treatment
ICD-10-PCS consists of the following features:
Tables—contain rows that show the valid code combinations for each code value
Index—a list of code descriptions listed alphabetically. Codes can be looked up in the index based on common terms (tonsillectomy) or procedure type (excision, tonsils). Once the desired procedure is located in the index, you can then use it to find the appropriate table to determine the correct code.
List of Codes—valid codes shown for the table
INTERPRETING ICD-10-PCS CODES
ICD-10-PCS codes can be broken down in such a way that will enable you to look at a code and automatically understand it. The position of each part of a code has a meaning:
Position 1: Section
Position 2: Body system
Position 3: Root operation
Position 4: Body part
Position 5: Approach
Position 6: Type of device
Position 7: Further qualifiers
Let’s take a look at our earlier example code for tonsillectomy—0CTP0ZZ. This code tells us the following information:
0: The code is in a medical and surgical table.
C: The procedure is in the mouth and throat.
T: The root operation is resection.
P: The body part is the tonsils.
0: The approach is an open approach.
Z: There’s no device.
Z: There’s no further qualifier.
All of these alphanumeric characters are found by reviewing the appropriate table in the coding book. At the beginning of each table is a list of alphanumeric characters used with that table.
Now it’s time to practice finding the same code using your coding book. Follow these steps:
In the Index of the coding book, locate the procedure tonsillectomy.
Follow: See Also, Resection Mouth Throat OCT.
In the Tables section of the coding book, locate the MOUTH AND THROAT tables.
Then, follow the headers until you get to the OCT table.
Within each column, locate the appropriate information for the procedure: Body part: Tonsils (P); Approach: Open (0); Device: No Device (Z); Qualifier: No Qualifier (Z)
In the Index of the coding book, locate the procedure tonsillectomy.
Follow: See Also, Resection Mouth Throat OCT.
In the Tables section of the coding book, locate the MOUTH AND THROAT tables.
Then, follow the headers until you get to the OCT table.
Within each column, locate the appropriate information for the procedure: Body part: Tonsils (P) (Column 1); Approach: Open (0) (Column 2); Device: No Device (Z) (Column 3); Qualifier: No Qualifier (Z) (Column 4).
Let’s look at another practice code. Suppose a patient has an excision of the toenail, external approach, for diagnosis of a condition. Before going any further, take a moment to see if you can locate the correct code in your coding book.
To locate excision of toenail, external approach, diagnostic, follow these steps:
In the Index of the coding book, look up Excision.
Under Excision, locate toenail.
The code in the Index lists 0HBRXZX. Before using the code, be sure to look the code up in the Table. (You should never code directly from the Index.) Start by locating the 0HB table.
In the Body Part column, locate toenail (R).
In the Approach column, locate external (X). In the Device column, locate No Device (Z).
In the Qualifier column, locate Diagnostic (X).
The final code for excision of the toe nail, external approach, for diagnosis is 0HBRXZX.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed at this point, that’s normal. It takes a little while to become acclimated to the layout of the coding book, so don’t worry!
ICD-10-PCS versus ICD-9-CM
Great differences exist between the ICD-10-PCS system and the ICD-9-CM procedure coding system. Upon initial review, the biggest difference is in the code structure. ICD-9-CM consisted of three- or four-digit numeric codes, including a decimal point. As discussed previously, the codes for ICD-10-PCS are seven alphanumeric digits, with no decimal.
Let’s take a closer look at the example we’ve been using for tonsillectomy. The code for tonsillectomy without adenoidectomy in the ICD-9-CM classification system is 28.2. The code for tonsillectomy without adenoidectomy in the ICD-10-PCS classification system is 0CTP0ZZ (open approach) or 0CTPXZZ (external approach).
As you can see, the structure of the code in ICD-9-CM is very different from that of ICD-10-PCS. There are almost 72,000 ICD-10 procedure codes sets, compared to 4,000 in ICD-9-CM! ICD-10-PCS codes allow for a great amount of detail, and the ICD-9-CM procedure codes didn’t. In fact, when using ICD-9-CM procedure codes, it was common to assign the codes NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) and NEC (Not Elsewhere Classified), because there wasn’t enough detail in that coding classification system to accurately identify the procedure.
The structure of ICD-10-PCS allows for growth and changes to accommodate more codes. This issue was one of the biggest problems with ICD-9-CM procedure codes. Since there was no allowance for growth, it created a huge problem when new procedures were added to the medical field.
Procedural Coding within the Hospital Setting
Although the coding book is a great way to assign codes, and although it’s important to understand, learn, and practice how to code with the aid of the coding book, it’s now possible to use software to code procedures. Today’s healthcare facilities use computerized coding software systems to help assign codes. These computerized systems make coding faster and more efficient; however, they can’t replace the knowledge and skills required to code manually. So, it’s still important to understand this process and how to obtain codes using a coding book.
When ICD-10 was first implemented, there was a bit of an overlap between using ICD-9 and ICD-10. When hospitals need to convert ICD-9-CM procedure codes to ICD-10-PCS, they use a process called mapping within the software. A mapping tool points the ICD-9-CM code to the appropriate ICD-10-PCS code. To aid in mapping, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), National Center for Health Statistics, American Health Information Management Association, American Hospital Association, and 3M have collectively developed the General Equivalency Mapping System (GEMS). This system helps point ICD-9-CM codes to the new ICD-10 codes.
Visit http://www.icd9data.com/2015/Volume3/default.htm and map the ICD-9-CM code for laparoscopic appendectomy (47.01) to the new ICD-10-PCS code. Type appendectomy into the search box and click on the magnifier icon to search. Click on the ICD-9/10 Conversion link at the top. Select the Convert ICD-10-PCS 0DTJ4ZZ to ICD-9-CM link, and you’ll see how the ICD-10 code for appendectomy is mapped back to the ICD- 9 code. This is an example of how mapping software works in coding and billing systems.
Think of mapping (also sometimes referred to as a crosswalk) as translating a word or phrase from one language to another language. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities load mapping files into their software systems to help them convert old codes to the new classification system.
Mapping isn’t an exact science. Sometimes, one code isn’t matched closely with an old code and a set of codes are presented, instead of just one code. So, coders still need to be able to have a good understanding of the manual coding process to determine which code is the most precise. As you know by now, selecting incorrect codes can result in loss of reimbursement to the healthcare facility or even complete denial of the claim.
The _______ provides the proper code based upon the histology of a neoplasm and anatomical site.
Question 1 options:
a)Neoplasm Table
b)Table of Drugs and Chemicals
c)External Causes Index
d)Unspecified Index
Question 2 (2.5 points)
In ICD-10-CM, an ?×7th character is used to indicate that a code requires a seventh
Question 2 options:
a)number.
b)letter.
c)symbol.
d)character following a placeholder “X”.
Question 3 (2.5 points)
General rules for ICD-10-CM independent of the regular guidelines are called
Question 3 options:
a)complication codes.
b)procedures.
c)conventions.
d)placeholders.
Question 4 (2.5 points)
A code is considered _______ if it hasn’t been coded to the full number of characters required.Question 4 options:
a)unclassified
b)irrefutable
c)invalid
d)unbundled