LOCATION, LOCATION – AND OTHER INFO…

Amazingly an entire year has gone by since the first day of ICD10 and we have all survived!

 

Some have done so better than others.  I still see quite a few doctors using unspecified codes instead of the more specific code sets available to them in ICD10, and lo and behold, they have still gotten paid.  So why take the time to do anything more?  The reason is that the grace period allowed to providers to use unspecified codes is about to end.

 

Year one was a limited implementation year.  Providers could slowly learn the new coding system and get better at both charting and selecting the more specific information required by ICD10.  The grace period was from 10/01/15 through 09/30/16.  As of 10/01/16 all codes must be specific to location, laterality, and in some cases episode of care – or be at risk of claim denial.

 

There are a lot of resources out there to assist in correct code selection.  With the Fall rush starting, the last thing you need are a host of denied claims due to diagnosis issues.

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