ICD-10 Training Video Series: ICD-10 Anatomy & Physiology
Episode 3
This video is the third in a series of training videos produced by Capture Billing and NueMD. To see the previous videos, offering an overview of ICD-10 basics, including formatting changes, click here.
With the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10, the number of available codes will more than quadruple. All of these extra codes are designed to increase coding specificity, meaning more accurate reimbursements for healthcare providers.
But there’s another factor to consider here too; the increased specificity will require a greater understanding of anatomy and physiology (A&P).
The third video in our ICD-10 training series details why it’s important for medical billers and coders to deepen their knowledge of A&P prior to ICD-10 implementation.
Why A&P Knowledge Matters
ICD-10 codes are simply more complex – unfortunately, that’s the only “simple” part of this process.
Each individual code may be comprised of up to 7 alphanumeric characters and 4 sections, so arriving at the proper code will be more involved and time-consuming.
For example, each code may contain the following sections:
- Category
- Subcategory
- Specificity
- Extender
Not only that, but looking up the codes in the ICD-10 Alphabetic Index will be different also.
Take a peek at the video above to see how a broken wrist is coded in ICD-10. It really reinforces the importance of knowing A&P.
Final ICD-10 Preparations
If you need to freshen up your A&P skills, many industry associations – like the AAPC and AHIMA – offer training courses. You can also take a course at your local community college too.
Regardless, in less than 5 months – on October 1, 2015 – you’ll be expected to begin billing with ICD-10 codes. Will your practice be ready?
A recent survey by NueMD found that 31% of healthcare professionals were “not at all confident” in their abilities to be ICD-10 ready by that date.
Fortunately, coders at Capture Billing are ICD-10 certified and ready to walk your practice through the transition.
Are you planning to seek more A&P training? Can you see how it would be helpful for successful ICD-10 coding? Please leave me a note in the comments section below.
