Top 5 ICD 10 CM Updates for 2020

As you know, we will be having soon new updates for ICD 10 CM for 2020. Their will lot of new codes, deleted codes and some revised codes in ICD 10 CM for 2020.

Their are lot of important updates in 2020 in diagnosis codes. I would like to share some of them in this article. The top 5 new ICD 10 coding guidelines for 2020 is given below

Read also: New E/M coding changes for 2021 for medical coders

1. Swap From ‘Physician’ to ‘Provider

In 2020, the Official guidelines state that, for Zika, “the provider’s diagnostic statement that the condition is confirmed is sufficient.”

In Chapter 17: Congenital malformations, deformations, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99): The 2020 OGs state, “Whenever the condition is diagnosed by the provider, it is appropriate to assign a code from codes Q00-Q99.”

In Section IV.G, in 2020 Official guidelines state, “In some cases the first-listed diagnosis may be a symptom when a diagnosis has not been established (confirmed) by the provider.”

Read also: Amazing wound repair coding tips for coders

2. ICD 10 Pressure Ulcer Changes

The official guidelines for pressure ulcer coding states that “the ICD-10-CM classifies pressure ulcer stages based on severity, which is designated by stages 1-4, deep tissue pressure injury, unspecified stage, and unstageable.”

In 2020, below new section in included for pressure ulcer coding

Pressure-induced deep tissue damage

For pressure-induced deep tissue damage or deep tissue pressure injury, assign only the appropriate code for pressure-induced deep tissue damage (L89.–6).

3. New Coding Guidelines for Injuries

Two new section are added for coding injuries. Below two new updates will be added in injury coding in 2020 codebook.

Iatrogenic injuries

Injury codes from Chapter 19 should not be assigned for injuries that occur during, or as a result of, a medical intervention. Assign the appropriate complication code(s).

Second is I.C.19.c.3, about physeal (growth plate) fractures:

Physeal fractures

For physeal fractures, assign only the code identifying the type of physeal fracture. Do not assign a separate code to identify the specific bone that is fractured.

4.BMI coding updates in 2020

In 2019 the official guidelines states that “BMI codes should only be assigned when the associated diagnosis (such as overweight or obesity) meets the definition of a reportable diagnosis (see Section III, Reporting Additional Diagnoses)”.

In 2020, the new updates stats that “BMI codes should only be assigned when there is an associated, reportable diagnosis (such as obesity).”

5.More Certainty to ‘Uncertain Diagnosis’ Coding

For inpatient coding, the new 2020 official coding guidelines state that:

“If the diagnosis documented at the time of discharge is qualified as “probable,” “suspected,” “likely,” “questionable,” “possible,” or “still to be ruled out,” “compatible with,” “consistent with,” or other similar terms indicating uncertainty, code the condition as if it existed or was established.”

For outpatient coding the new update state as “Do not code diagnoses documented as “probable”, “suspected,” “questionable,” “rule out,” “compatible with,” “consistent with,” or “working diagnosis” or other similar terms indicating uncertainty.”

References:

https://blog.supercoder.com/coding-updates/top-10-icd-10-cm-official-guideline-updates-for-2020/