• E-mail
• Print
• RSS

Topic: ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee announces several proposed ICD-9 changes (part one)

HIM Connection, April 15, 2008

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to HIM Connection!

The ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee Meeting took place March 19-20, and coders should be aware of several proposed changes for 2009. Below is a look at a few of the changes. We'll discuss several other proposed changes in next week's issue.

• tPA--Proposed code V87.43 to denote patients who have received tPA for a stroke or MI within 24 hours prior to admission.
• Thrombosis and embolism--Proposed codes for upper extremity, thorax, and neck thrombosis. Currently there are only specific codes for lower extremity thrombosis. These codes may be structured similar to the way in which the acute myocardial infarction codes are structured, including a fifth digit to identify the episode of care.
• MRSA and MSSA--Proposed changes to add specificity to more efficiently track this condition that has grown exponentially in hospitals and healthcare settings. The proposed codes include MRSA septicemia, code 038.11 or MSSA septicemia, code 038.12 depending on whether it was susceptible or resistant. Another proposal includes adding a code to the infection category, 041, for MRSA and MSSA. New codes would also be necessary in the V codes (carrier/suspected, history of).
• Fever--Proposed expanding code 780.6 to include a fifth digit to identify postprocedural fevers, post-vaccination. Also associated with this is a code for chills without fever or hypothermia.
• Disruption of operation wound--Proposed changes include adding more "inclusion" terms and differentiating between traumatic wounds versus surgical wounds disruptions.
• Activity codes--Proposed changes include adding new E codes (E000-E010) to assign for activities during which a person is injured, such as leisure activities, student activities, work-related activities, and military activities. Other more specific proposals include dog walking, marching, water polo, lap swimming, synchronized swimming, ice skating, snow skiing, and snow mobiling.
• Injuries and E codes for military operations--Proposed changes include adding E codes for injuries sustained during military maneuvers (e.g., IEDs, guided missiles). Another proposed change includes adding V codes to identify family situations for deployment status.
• Exposure to harmful substances--Proposed changes include adding codes for exposure to harmful substances, such as chlorine bleach and mold.

Editor's note: For more information regarding the ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee Meeting, visit the CDC and CMS Web sites at www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/otheract/icd9/maint/agendaMa08.pdf and www.cms.hhs.gov/ICD9ProviderDiagnosticCodes/03_meetings.asp#TopOfPage.

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to HIM Connection!

• Comment
• E-mail to a Colleague
• Print
• RSS
• Archive

Comments