Tip #6: Will ICD-10 require unnecessary detail in medical records?

Are you ready with 29 days left to prepare? The deadline is fast approaching to prepare for the transition to ICD-10. Pathway Health has been training providers across the nation, and we wanted to share some myths and facts that have been presented to our consultants and trainers.

MYTH
Unnecessary, detailed medical record documentation will be required when ICD-10-CM/PCS is implemented.

FACT
As demonstrated by the American Hospital Association-American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) ICD-10-CM Field Study, much of the detail contained in ICD-10-CM/PCS is already in medical record documentation, but is not currently needed for ICD-9-CM coding.

As with ICD-9-CM, ICD-10-CM/PCS codes should be based on medical record documentation. While documentation supporting accurate and specific codes will result in higher-quality data, nonspecific codes are still available for use when documentation doesn’t support a higher level of specificity.

Our clients have the ICD-10 finish line in their sites. Call the Pathway Health trainers at 877-777-5463, to get ready to go live!