Avoid “Coding Misadventures” – Assign the Correct Complication Code

Section I.C.19 of the “Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting” (OCG) contains the guidelines for ICD-10-CM Chapter 19: Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes. Of all the chapters in ICD-10-CM, Chapter 19 (S00-T88) contains the most codes with 87 new codes added for FY 2020. That brings the Chapter 19 total to […]
Read moreNew Guideline I.C.15.l.3 Drug use during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium, and New Codes for Chapter 16 Certain Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period.

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) notes, “Use of alcohol, illicit drugs and other psychoactive substances during pregnancy can lead to multiple health and social problems for both mother and child, including miscarriage, stillbirth, low birthweight, prematurity, physical malformations and neurological damage.” Complete and accurate coding as well as application of the FY2019 Official Coding […]
Read moreReporting of Hurricane Aftermath Encounters Explained in New Official Coding Guideline

A completely new official coding guideline (“OCG”), not a revision, was added to Section I.B. General Coding Guidelines. The new guideline is titled “Coding for Healthcare Encounters in Hurricane Aftermath.” This new OCG has four components: I.B.19.a. Use of External Cause of Morbidity Codes I.B.19.b. Sequencing of External Causes of Morbidity Codes I.B.19.c. Other External […]
Read moreChapter 2: Neoplasms “Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting” Clarifications: Current Malignancy vs Personal History, Primary or Secondary Site(s)

Two seemingly small revisions and the addition of a paragraph were made to the Chapter 2: Neoplasms (C00-D49) “Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting” (OCG), specifically C.2.d. Primary malignancy previously excised, and C.2.m. Current malignancy versus personal history of malignancy These guideline revisions became effective October 1, 2018. The OCG are applicable to all health […]
Read moreNew FY2019 Guideline and Unique Codes for Forced Labor and Sexual Exploitation Provide the Data for Identification, Treatment, Public Policy and Prevention

New ICD-10-CM codes for abuse to include forced commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor exploitation were proposed and presented by the Massachusetts General Hospital Human Trafficking Initiative and Freedom Clinic, Catholic Health Initiatives, and the American Hospital Association at the September 2017 ICD-10-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting under the topic “Forced labor and sexual […]
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