Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/621015
* WHY THE CHANGE? The WHO changed and added additional codes to enable physicians to be more specific on claim forms in reporting the diagnosis and care provided to patients, as well as to better track the conditions, injuries, and diseases with which patients present for documentation purposes. We all know we can't diagnose our clients' conditions, so if you are working with a client who was referred to you by a health-care provider, the recommended way to get an ICD-9 translation into a new ICD-10 code is to contact the referring physician directly. Please be aware that ICD-10 has 141,000 codes—more than eight times the 17,000 codes in ICD-9—therefore, interpretation of the old ICD-9 must be accurate or it will delay or negate your ability to get reimbursed. The code you use must match the code the physician submits. GETTING STARTED To get you started understanding the new system, one of the most common conditions we provide therapy for is sciatica, which used to be ICD-9 724.3. You'll see in the table below how the code has been changed to be much more specific using the ICD-10 code, which is determined by the health- care provider. You can see how the new codes for sciatica start with M5, which indicates diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99), which is a Chapter Name, followed by a Block Code, followed by a Block Name. Muscle spasm was ICD-9 728.85; it is now ICD- 10 M62 and must be site-specific, not only right or left, but also to the area of the body where the spasm is occurring. Again, the ICD-10 code must be diagnosed by the referring physician. The numbers that complete the code are added once the specifics are determined. MAJOR CODE CHANGES Don't miss Irene Diamond's "To Bill or Not to Bill: Should You Accept Insurance?" in the May/June 2015 issue of Massage & Bodywork. Review it at www.massageandbodywork digital.com/i/494122-may-june-2015/50. Source ICD-9 Mapping Type Target ICD-10 724.3 ( Diagnosis)—Sciatica Single to Single Alternative #1: M5430 ( Diagnosis)— Sciatica, unspecified side Single to Single Alternative #2: M5431 ( Diagnosis)— Sciatica, right side Single to Single Alternative # 3: M5432 ( Diagnosis)— Sciatica, lef t side Single to Single Alternative # 5: M5441 ( Diagnosis)— Lumbago with sciatica, right side Single to Single Alternative # 6: M5442 ( Diagnosis)— Lumbago with sciatica, lef t side C h e c k o u t A B M P 's l a t e s t n e w s a n d b l o g p o s t s . Av a i l a b l e a t w w w. a b m p . c o m . 77