Expanded diagnosis code sets will allow coders to classify whether skin cancer is basal, squamous, or unspecified.
On October 1, dermatology coders will be able to more accurately report the location of carcinomas and other neoplasms of the skin.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) has released its proposed changes to ICD-9 2012, and they include an expansion of the 173.x (Other malignant neoplasm of skin) series. Each code in that series will get a list of fifth digits that will specify whether the malignant neoplasm is basal cell, squamous cell, or unspecified.
Example: Now, dermatology coders would report 173.0 (Other malignant neoplasm of skin of lip) for any non-melanoma malignant neoplasm of the lip. But when ICD-9 2012 becomes effective on October 1, 2011, coders can choose from:
On October 1, dermatology coders will be able to more accurately report the location of carcinomas and other neoplasms of the skin.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) has released its proposed changes to ICD-9 2012, and they include an expansion of the 173.x (Other malignant neoplasm of skin) series. Each code in that series will get a list of fifth digits that will specify whether the malignant neoplasm is basal cell, squamous cell, or unspecified.
Example: Now, dermatology coders would report 173.0 (Other malignant neoplasm of skin of lip) for any non-melanoma malignant neoplasm of the lip. But when ICD-9 2012 becomes effective on October 1, 2011, coders can choose from:
The changes in the other skin cancer categories follow this pattern, with the fifth digit of "0" referring to an unspecified malignant neoplasm, "1" denoting a basal cell cancer, "2" referring to a squamous cell carcinoma," and "9" describing another specified malignant neoplasm.
The new, revised, and invalid codes have been approved by the by the ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee and were published in the Federal Register on May 5, 2011. After the new codes take effect on Oct. 1, CMS will only add new ICD-9 codes on an emergency basis as it prepares to switch over the diagnosis coding system to ICD-10.
Get Staff Up to Speed on Changes
With only a few months before implementation, the time to act is now, says Pamela Biffle, CPC, CPC-P, CPC-I, CCS-P, CHCC, CHCO, owner of PB Healthcare Consulting and Education Inc. in Austin, Texas.
"Coders will have to maker sure their systems are updated with the new codes," she notes. "Training will have to be done for all the staff."
Good idea: "This is a great example of when to have a lunch and learn session for all providers and other clinical staff that may be assigning diagnosis codes," Biffle suggests. Source URL :-
No comments:
Post a Comment