Medicine and Health Care: Introduction to ICD Classification and Reimbursement, Essay Example

Reimbursement claims often requires a doctor in a health care to use coding systems. ICD-9- CM codes are used to identify the patient’s physical state or disease.

Emily H. (2000) reported that the first step when a patient visits a health care is to code only to a high degree of specificity. This is where a patient might be having the symptoms of a disease that looks like a different disease. A doctor should carry the appropriate code to the fifth digit. Secondly, the ICD-9-CM code (diagnosis code) should be linked to CPT (the service code) to identify the reason why the appropriate service was rendered. Thirdly, Dr. Alan l. (2000) reported that the suspected diagnoses should never be coded. Applicable codes should be assigned for symptoms or signs which is the sole reason for the patient’s visit. The primary diagnoses should be coded first, then the secondary then the tertiary diagnoses. The patient’s visit is because of the primary diagnosis. Lastly, a doctor should code the coexisting conditions affecting the patient’s treatment during that visit including the chronic conditions.

Emily H. (2000) reported that the ICD-9-CM codes are usually organized in 3 volumes; volume 1 is the numeric listings of diagnostic codes and their descriptions, volume 2 is composed of alphabetic index of the codes and the terms that are in correspondence, volume 3 is an alphabetical index and tabular list of descriptions and procedural codes. The codes are applied in the hospitals during diagnosis of diseases. The ICD-9-CM codes can have three, four or five digits and this depends on their different categories. The first 3 digit code usually represents the category of the diagnosis. The fourth digit is used for the identification of the complications that are associated with the disease. The fifth digit describes the type of the disease and the level that it can be controlled.

References

Dr. Alan l. (2000). How to correctly assign the diagnostic codes for speedy payment. Retrieved January 20^th 2010, from http://aficc.tripod.com/diagnosis.doc

Emily H. (2000). The family practitioner Management: Improve your ICD-9-CM Coding accuracy. Wilmington, N.C: Hill & Associates Inc.