General Surgery Coding Alert

Question: I’ve been told that ICD-10 will be nearly impossible to use because there are so many more codes — is that true?

Arkansas Subscriber

Answer: ICD-10 does have many more codes than ICD-9 — that much is true. But just as an increase in the number of words in a dictionary doesn’t make it more difficult to use, the greater number of codes in ICD-10 doesn’t necessarily make it more complex to use. More codes in ICD-10 may actually mean that you’ll be able to code more accurately and more easily.

Perspective: When you’re looking for a diagnosis code in ICD-9, you don’t have to search the entire list of codes for the right code. The same holds true for ICD-10. Look to the Alphabetic Index and available electronic coding tools for help selecting the proper code.

Plus, ICD-10’s improved structure and greater specificity will most likely make it easier to develop better computer-based coding tools that will help you locate codes with greater speed.