Medical coding personnel currently work within a protocol called ICD-9. This system was established by the World Health Organization in 1979 at their 29th Assembly. Medical knowledge, technology and procedures change at a startling pace, however. Because of this the WHO was preparing even in 1979 for the 10th revision of the system. They contracted the work to 3M corporation and a final draft of the document was finished in 1998. Many countries have adopted ICD-10 already, and the United States began using it for mortality data in 1999. While it may seem irrelevant, the change in systems has already altered how causes of death are recorded, leading to different statistical conclusions. With medical coders preparing for the October 2013 adoption of ICD-10 for procedures and morbidity information, health professionals and the general public need to know what the change will mean for them.
Medical Billing and Coding Certification was created for healthcare professionals and organizations seeking a better understanding of ICD-10 and how to migrate successfully to the new protocol. We created a full guide that describes all the technical changes and also provide resources for proper implementation so your organization meets all mandatory compliance dates.
Medical Billing and Coding Online In the wake of nationwide reforms, the healthcare industry is experiencing record growth, as well as unprecedented change. Millions more people have access to healthcare, and sweeping new insurance regulations and improved digital records systems are being put into place. As patient records are more freely shared between practices, and as the insurance billing process changes, an increased focused is being placed on health informatics. Medical billing and coding specialists are at the forefront of that field.While the titles are often combined, and many employers require a specialist to perform both functions, medical coding and medical billing are two separate fields. For every patient seen, a record is kept. It’s the job of the medical coder to translate the diagnoses and treatments from that visit into universal alphanumeric code that can be shared and translated between all healthcare and insurance providers. The medical biller then takes that information and creates a claim to submit to the insurance company to both determine coverage and to collect payment. Without medical billing and coding specialists, no healthcare provider would be paid for their services and the critical sharing of patient information would grind to a halt. It’s safe to say that they are one of the most crucial components of the healthcare industry.
This increasing importance is bringing a new competitiveness to the field. There are currently no regulations requiring a degree or certification to become a biller or coder, and it is possible to find employment without either. However, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to do so. As the billing and coding process grows more complex, and as the specialist’s responsibilities expand, many employers are adding specific certifications to their hiring criteria. Certifications through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and American Academy of Professional Codes (AAPC) are quickly becoming the entry-level standards in the field. Many of those certification exams are only open to graduates of an approved certificate, diploma, or degree program.
Therefore, as the employment outlook for medical billers and coders continues to grow, so does the focus on postsecondary education. We here at MedicalBillingandCodingOnline.com wanted to create the ultimate resource for both those trying to decide on a health information career and for prospective students searching for the perfect school to fit their needs. Here you will find comprehensive guides on every aspect of the field, an extensively-researched list of the top online medical billing and coding programs in the country, and a series of free information courses designed to both prepare you for your coursework and to serve as a study tool for certification exams.
While there are many improvements in ICD-10, there are relatively few changes to the format of coding. This is not to say that medical coders don’t need to learn anything new. There are many alterations to the specificity and expansiveness of the new system. Where ICD-9-CM only had 13,000 codes ICD-10-CM boasts 68,000. The format has been lengthened and the rearranged to more accurately describe different types of injuries. For example, sensory receptor injuries are separated from nervous disorders in ICD-10. There is a lot more to know in ICD-10.
With the increased complexity comes increased accuracy in documenting conditions. While ICD-9 had no way to distinguish the side of the body exhibiting injury, this is included for every applicable instance in ICD-10. Different stages of disease, trimester indications for pregnancy and codes that combine conditions with relevant information are all recognized by improvements made in ICD-10. Medical coders will be able to more accurately document patient health, leading to more efficient health practices and less room for error. Coded documents will require less supplementary paperwork to distinguish between the ambiguities of ICD-9. Overall the changes will increase accessibility and efficacy of information in medical files. They require adaptation by doctors recording their procedures and medical information specialists accurately encoding the details. With the participation of these professionals the health care industry stands to improve efficiency and precision through the new system.
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are heavily involved in the revision and transition of medical billing. Their introduction to ICD-10 is well laid out and intuitive, even for nonexperts. They describe the significant differences between ICD-9 and 10 and supply comparative examples to see improvements. The end of the document includes advice on preparing for the switch and a few sites with more detailed information.
- Health insurance giant Aetna recently published an overview of the upcoming changes in ICD-10, along with brief summaries of the upcoming addenda to HIPAA and NCPDP. The tables included in the report give a good idea of what to expect, as well as how ICD-9 codes will be converted to ICD-10.
- CMS’ ICD-10 overview is a presentation on many aspects of medical coding. It covers the history of ICD-9, the reasons the switch is necessary and the additional features of the new protocol. In addition to CMS’ Pat Brooks, it includes perspectives from representatives of the Center for Disease Control, the American Health Association and the American Health Information Management Association.
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