For healthcare coders and professionals, staying informed about the latest developments in ICD codes is crucial. As we approach Oct 1, 2023, significant updates to the ICD code system are on the horizon. Wise Medical Billing is your trusted resource for navigating these changes with precision and expertise. Join us as we delve into the intricacies of the forthcoming ICD code updates for 2024, equipping you with the knowledge you need to excel in your coding practice.
Furthermore, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a mandate (ICD Code Changes updates 2024) that requires all organizations subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to transition to a new set of codes for electronic healthcare transactions.
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ICD Code Change Updates 2024
The 2024 ICD-10-CM refers to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification, which is a system for coding diseases and medical conditions. You should use the 2024 ICD-10-CM codes for discharges that occur between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024, as well as for patient encounters that happen within the same timeframe. It is essential to ensure accurate coding and billing for healthcare services during this period.
The ICD-10-CM code system has been expanded with 1176 new healthcare codes for 2024. These additions cover a range of important areas, including social determinants of health (SDOH), dementia, maternal care, and pregnancy.
As we deal with life after the pandemic, one thing we can count on is that things are always changing. The way we get medical information and talk to our doctors is very different now compared to just two years ago. Healthcare is evolving.
Recently, one of the most notable developments has been the increased speed and volume of updates in both code and content released by standard bodies.
This year, in particular, has seen a record-breaking surge in releases, with several standard bodies adopting more frequent schedules and introducing a greater number of code families.
These changes have been driven largely by the shift from a fee-for-service to a value-based care healthcare model.
This transition has necessitated a more comprehensive documentation process, placing a strong emphasis on ensuring precise coding that accurately reflects the severity of a patient’s condition and the care they receive.
The new reimbursement model is heavily dependent on the quality of care provided, making it crucial to capture all relevant details. While this represents a significant change, the ultimate goal is to enhance patient outcomes.
2024 ICD-10-CM Updates
Let’s review the most recent updates on the ICD code system.
In October 2023, there will be a lot of changes in the codes that doctors used to describe medical conditions. Last year, there were only 159 new codes added, but this year, a whopping 1176 new codes have been introduced.
Among the notable additions are codes related to dementia, (a type of memory problem), endometriosis (a condition that affects some women’s reproductive organs), taking care of pregnant women with babies who have health issues, head injuries, and accidents involving motorcycles and electric bikes.
In addition to introducing new codes, the ICD code system has eliminated 251 outdated ones, refined the terminology for better clarity, and consolidated 36 codes into more comprehensive categories.
These changes are made to help healthcare practitioners and hospitals keep better records of what’s going on with patients and to make sure they get paid correctly for their services. It’s all about improving healthcare and making things work more smoothly.
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Dementia ICD-10 codes
In response to the growing concern of dementia, especially among the aging baby boomer generation, the 2024 ICD-10 CM (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification) has expanded its coding system to provide more comprehensive information on dementia and its associated behavioral disorders.
This expansion is a result of discussions held during the ‘ICD-10-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee’ meetings in March and September 2021.
The key changes include the addition of 87 new codes in Chapter 5: Mental, Behavioral, and Neurodevelopmental Disorders. These new codes aim to categorize dementia (classified under categories F01, F02, and F03) based on both its etiology (cause) and severity.
The severity levels are classified as unspecified, mild, moderate, or severe. Importantly, the selection of the appropriate severity level is to be determined by the healthcare provider’s clinical judgment, and the codes should be assigned based on the provider’s documentation, as outlined in the Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting.
In cases where the documentation does not provide specific information about the severity of dementia, coders are instructed to assign the appropriate code for unspecified severity.
Additionally, when a patient with dementia is admitted to an inpatient acute care hospital or other inpatient facility and experiences a progression in the severity of dementia during their stay, only one code should be assigned, representing the highest severity level reported during that stay.
This expansion in coding for dementia is driven by a need for more detailed information on associated disorders, particularly psychotic disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety (ICD code for anxiety), which often accompany dementia.
Thus, these changes are intended to support improved clinical care and to provide valuable data for identifying levels of healthcare expenditure related to dementia and its associated conditions.
Moreover, the 2024 ICD-10-CM coding changes reflect a proactive response to the growing occurrence of dementia, offering healthcare professionals a more precise way to document and classify this complex condition and its related behavioral disorders.
Genitourinary
In the Genitourinary System Diseases category, 168 new codes have been added for endometriosis. These new codes provide more detailed information about where in the body the condition is located, how deep it goes, and whether it affects one side or both sides.
The ICD-10-CM category “Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Puerperium saw the incorporation of 200 additional codes. These new codes were necessary to provide more precise representation for a significant variety of specific fetal conditions that were insufficiently covered in earlier versions of the ICD-10-CM.
Supporting the collection of health-related social needs (HRSN)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has introduced new medical codes to track social factors that affect a person’s health. These are called HRSN.
There are 15 new codes for neglect and maltreatment cases, specifying the relationship of the perpetrator, like a partner, spouse, child, grandparent, sibling, or acquaintance/friend.
Within the classification of Factors Influencing Health Status, there’s a new code addressing health literacy, which is important for documenting if patients understand their own health conditions and treatments. More codes related to this topic are expected in the future.
These new codes aim to capture critical information like housing problems, abuse, and noncompliance with medication or treatment, whether due to financial difficulties or other reasons, to improve healthcare equity and understanding of patients’ social determinants of health.
Conclusion
If your team needs a helping hand with these updates, feel free to contact the Wise Medical Billing team. Our expert coders can lighten the load for professional practitioners.
FAQs
Q1. What are the ICD Code Change Updates for 2024?
A: The ICD Code Change Updates for 2024 refer to modifications and additions to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code system used for medical diagnosis and billing. These updates aim to reflect changes in medical terminology, technology, and practices.
Q2. When will the ICD Code Change Updates take effect?
A: The ICD Code Change Updates for 2024 will be implemented on Oct 1, 2023. It’s essential for healthcare professionals to be prepared for these changes to ensure accurate coding and billing.
Q3. What are the key changes in the 2024 updates?
A: The updates include the addition of new codes, removal of outdated ones, revisions to terminology for clarity, and the consolidation of codes into broader categories. Learn in detail in the above blog.
Q4. How will these updates impact healthcare providers and coders?
A: Healthcare providers and coders will need to familiarize themselves with the new codes and guidelines to maintain compliance and accuracy in medical coding and billing. Failure to adapt to these changes could result in coding errors and reimbursement issues.
Q5. Where can I find resources to help me understand and implement the updates?
A: Wise Medical Billing offers useful resources, materials, and educational content to assist healthcare professionals in understanding and implementing the ICD Code Change Updates for 2024. Be sure to stay updated with official coding guidelines as well.
Q7: Can I continue to use the previous year’s ICD-10-CM codes in 2024?
A: No, you should not use the previous year’s ICD-10-CM codes in 2024. The 2024 ICD-10-CM codes are specifically designed for discharges occurring between October 1, 2023, and September 30, 2024, as well as patient encounters within this same period. Using outdated codes can result in billing inaccuracies and compliance issues, so it’s crucial to update your coding practices to reflect the changes for FY 2024.