It may be August, but all you need to do is browse through any retail store to know that fall, October, and Halloween are quickly approaching. But before you worry about which costume you’re going to rock for Halloween this year, it’s time to check out the ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS code updates that will be implemented on October 1.
Updates to ICD-10-CM include 395 new, 25 deleted, and 13 revised codes. As with most annual changes, this means expansion of existing codes as well as the addition of new codes to allow for greater specificity in diagnostic reporting. As an example, familiar code G20 for Parkinson’s disease is being subdivided into five new codes ranging from four to five characters in length. The guidelines have been updated to address screening for COVID-19 in a post-pandemic environment as well as introducing new guidance for encounters for HIV prophylactic measures, resistant hypertension, and myocardial infarction with coronary microvascular dysfunction.
On the procedural side of things, this year’s PCS update is relatively thin in comparison to previous years, with 331 new codes and 64 deleted codes. Although most of the changes affect the New Technology section (X codes), even the amount of X codes this year represents fewer changes than we’ve recently seen. Even so, there are some New Technology codes being retired and quite a few new ones being introduced. Other changes to the PCS coding system include an updated guideline about percutaneous endoscopic procedures performed using hand-assistance, and new codes for reporting intubated prone positioning, reduction of thyroid cartilage fracture, substernal implantable defibrillator leads, and more.
If you want to learn all about the upcoming code changes, we’ve got you covered! On August 17, 2023, we will release two ICD-10 webinars detailing the code changes along with explanations of the conditions and technologies they report as well as information about why the changes are occurring.
And if you are wondering how these new codes will impact the inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS), including MS-DRG grouping, be sure to check out our September webinar release, Hospital Inpatient Payment Update!
Make sure you're up-to-date on October 1st!
Kristi Pollard, RHIT, CCS, CPC, CIRCC, AHIMA-Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer
Director of Coding Quality & Education
Kristi is the Director of Coding Quality & Education with more than 25 years of industry experience; she is responsible for the development of web-based, instructor-led, and webinar training materials; conducting training in ICD-10-CM/PCS and CPT; and performing DRG and APC audits. Kristi has an extensive background in coding education and consulting and is a national speaker and published writer on topics related to ICD-10 and CPT coding and code-based reimbursement. She has designed and developed training programs for inpatient and outpatient hospital-based coding, with a focus on vascular interventional radiology, interventional cardiology, orthopedics, and obstetrics.
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