October 1, 2010 is just round the corner, and as a coder you will stand in good stead if you know them before hand. So whether your patients present with cardiologic, orthopedic, or gynecologic complaints, the next round of
ICD-9 codes could have important changes waiting for you.
If you are a radiology coder, you can find the following changes.
There will be more specific Estasia codes
The ensuing changes to ICD 9 2011 add four codes specific to aortic ectasia. These codes are among the most important changes for radiology coders as you may see that term in your radiologist’s findings.
Ectasia means dilation or enlargement, and aortic ectasia normally refers to enlargement that’s milder than an aneurysm. However, ICD 9 2010 doesn’t differentiate ectasia from aneurysm, indexing aortic ectasia to 441.9 and 441.5.
Keep a watch for ‘Claudication’ in Stenosis report
Another key change is the proposed addition of 724.03 (Spinal stenosis, lumbar region, with neurogenic claudication). The code refers to lumbar spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spinal canal. Neurogenic cluadication is a commonly used expression for a syndrome associated with important lumbar spinal stenosis leading to compression of the cauda equine (lumbar nerves).
Match just-in uterine codes to clinical class If you report gynecological imaging, do not miss the proposed new codes for uterine abnormalities. So-called müllerian duct abnormalities can lead to infertility; however surgical correction is sometimes possible. Radiological imaging, normally MRI, confirms the diagnosis; as such the radiologist should document the specific type of abnormality in his findings. The ICD 9 2011 proposal expands the 752.3 range.
Assess new retained fragment proposals Over one-third of the proposed codes are “V" codes, which explain “supplementary classification of factors impacting health status and contact with health services. A few of the codes describe retained fragments, which the radiologist may note in his findings.
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