ICD-10-PCS Introduces Procedure Guidelines and Coder Confusion  

Category: ICD-10

By Jennifer Avery

Currently, we only have a little advice when it comes to coding procedures using ICD-9-CM volume 3 codes and most of that comes from AHA Coding Clinic. So I was really excited to see that the cooperating parties developed guidelines with the new ICD-10-PCS system. However, once I began studying them, I noticed some guidelines that are going to cause a challenge for coders since many of these guidelines will change how coders report inpatient procedures using ICD-10-PCS codes. It will also change how coders report procedures using the CPT ® and HCPCS Level II codes for outpatient facility/physician services. So, the ICD-10-PCS draft guidelines bring up a lot of questions as to why the rules will change for the coding of certain procedures using ICD-10-PCS.

The multiple procedure guidelines present possibilities for coder confusion. Several guidelines rela...