Staff | Issue: January 2015 |
The ICD-10 page on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website features a countdown clock that shows the time left until Oct. 1, 2015, the date on which compliance with the new code set becomes mandatory. By the time this issue goes to press, the clock will read 90 or fewer days. Time…
It is essential for coders to understand the rules of engagement, especially when it comes to correct coding and using the most up-to-date coding tools. Those who interact with Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), or insurance companies also have the experience of dealing with the countless coding rules and guidelines.
For the past 30 years, coders have used the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) to identify and report diseases, signs, and symptoms as well as to measure morbidity and mortality in the United States. In general, coders identify ICD-9 as the heartbeat of reimbursement for medical procedures because this is what drives medical necessity.
Coding changes will have an impact on staff, physicians, and even the finances of rheumatology practices