October 1, 2015 marked the official compliance date for implementation of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10) by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the first update to the standardized codes for medical conditions and procedures in more than 35 years. The newly expanded codes — jumping from 14,000 to 69,000 — grants healthcare professionals greater specificity and clinical accuracy for noting procedures and diagnoses, but could also present obstacles and headaches in the transition from the previous ICD-9 codes.
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What’s Changed With ICD-10?
After delaying the implementation deadline several times, the new ICD-10 code set will allow for greater measurement of patient outcomes and care, along with improved clinical decisions for healthcare providers. Besides the expansion in the number of codes for procedures and diagnoses, some of the most significant changes are noted below:
Source: CMS.gov
This article originally appeared on MPR