Plus, new codes will make cancer classification easier.
The proposed changes to 2012 ICD-9 codes is out; approved by the ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee, the new, revised and invalid codes were published in the Federal Register on May 5, 2011. After the new codes go into effect on October 1 this year, CMS will add ICD-9 codes on an emergency basis as it gears up to switch over the diagnosis coding system to ICD-10.
Expanded ICD-9 diagnosis code sets: As per the changes, from October 1 this year, dermatology coders will be able to report the location of carcinomas and other neoplasms of the skin more accurately. This time they include an expansion of the 173.x (Other malignant neoplasm of skin) series. Each code in that series will get a list of fifth digits that'll provide specifications on whether the malignant neoplasm is basal cell, squamous cell, or unspecified.
ICD 9 codes 2011: Right now dermatology coders use 173.0 for any non-melanoma malignant neoplasm of the lip. This will become an invalid code once ICD-9 2012 codes go into effect.
ICD-9 codes 2012: When the ICD-9 2012 goes into effect, coders can choose from four options - 173.00, 173.01, 173.02 and 173.09.
New codes will make cancer classification easier: Normally, majority of skin cancers are either basal or squamous cell, neither of which are reportable conditions to central cancer registries. Due to the difficulty in distinguishing reportable skin cancers from non-reportable skin cancers, the facilities are transmitting skin cancers to central registries. This puts an additional burden on central registries and also ends up in the transmission of confidential patient information on patients whose information shouldn't be reported. The expansion of the category of 173 codes will allow for the differentiation of reportable and non-reportable skin cancer.
ICD-10 codes: We're not sure whether there'll be expanded skin neoplasm codes when coders update their diagnosis codes in 2013 with the new code set. Presently, ICD-10 is likely to include C44.0-C44.9, a code series that does not have the specificity as the soon-to-go-into-effect ICD-9 2012 codes.
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