Outpatient Facility Coding Alert

Reader Question:

Wait for the Right Time to Use the New ICD-10

Question: Now that the new revised ICD-10 codeset has arrived, when are we supposed to start using the codes? Do we have a place where we can compare the old and new codes?

New York Subscriber

Answer: The ICD-10 new codes for 2017 do not become effective until 10/1/16 and should not be used prior to the effective date.

Here is how the timeline goes:

April 2016Notice of proposed rulemaking, the IPPS, including proposed ICD-10-CM and PCS changes, was duly approved in the March meeting.

June 2016Final code updates and addendum got posted on the CMS website. These are the codes that everyone is talking about now.

August 1, 2016Final rule with links to final codes goes live.

September 13-14, 2016Next meeting to discuss new requests.

October 1, 2016The new code implementation starts.

Learn more: The best place for the kind of information you are looking for would be the final addenda, published in June—with additions/revisions, at http://www.cms.gov. You can access the ICD-10-CM addendum at www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd10cm.htm.