As a medical coder, you will assign specific numeric codes to medical services, procedures and diagnoses. Allied’s Medical Coding teaches you how to apply the right code in the right place and streamline the medical billing process. From knowledge of ICD-9-CM and CPT codes to reimbursement issues, you will be ready to play an important part in a medical office.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Planning for the ICD-10 transition? With the implementation set for October 2013, there is still a lot of preparation and readiness ahead. In the midst of planning and preparing for the new system, it is important to look ahead at the advantages of adoption and how ICD-10 implementation will benefit the entire health care industry.
Advantages of Transitioning to ICD-10 Codes Greater accuracy - Health care providers will have a better ability to accurately describe diagnoses, including documentation of new diseases and more precisely describing existing ones. With the number of codes increasing from 17,000 to 155,000, the codes will more accurately describe patients' diagnoses and conditions.
Room for expansion - While the current system is outdated and doesn't allow for growth, the new ICD-10 coding system has room to accommodate new codes and advancement in the health care industry.
International compatibility – Other countries have been successfully using the ICD-10 coding system for many years. With implementation in the U.S., there will be a uniform medical coding system, which will make it easier to share health information and increase compatibility.
More specific codes - The increased depth and specificity of the coding system will enable patients' records to be more precise and detailed. The ICD-10 code set has been expanded and includes codes tailored to current times (the old code set was established in the late 1970s), with new terminology and clinical concepts that are more relevant to today.
Reduced errors – The ambiguity of the current codes can cause increased errors. With the ICD-10 coding system in place, health care providers will have access to codes that more accurately describe their patients' diagnoses. This can result in less re-payments, incorrect payments, etc.
Shorter claim cycle – The increased accuracy of the codes can mean that fewer claims are sent back with a request for more information. There would be less legwork involved and claims would be more quickly paid.
Stronger case for procedures – With patients' having more in-depth information included in their claims, there will be more supporting documentation and reasoning for medically-necessary procedures and services.
There will be tangible benefits to the implementation of ICD-10. From more detailed codes to thorough documentation, your career as a medical coder or health care provider will become easier, more streamlined and precise. Stay focused as you prepare - the new codes are designed to improve quality care and enable providers to communicate more effectively with each other. This is a win-win scenario for the industry as a whole!
(Source: AAPC)
Read Full Article>> Benefits of Implementing the New ICD-10 Coding System
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