Pathology Coding: Icd-9 2010 Changes To Provide More Specificity

By Author: Julia Rose
Total Articles: 89
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Still sticking to generic neuroendocrine cancer codes? If so, your claims will lack ICD-9's specificity requirement. Try to avoid this.


Most of the ICD-9 2010 changes expand disease subcategories to provide more specific descriptions. Getting new diagnosis codes that provide additional specificity can certainly be a plus point for coding accuracy. The following changes effective October 1 will certainly help you avoid this error.


ICD-9 2010 comes up with six new diagnosis codes that describe Merkel cell carcinoma, an aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer that tends to grow quickly and may metastasize at an early stage. Such spefice codes for Merkel cell wasn't there before this.

The ICD-9 committee stated that 209.30 is not appropriate for Merkel cell carcinoma of unknown site. If the primary site in unknown, you'll have to take your coding hunt to 209.75.

Go for 239.89 instead of 239.8. ICD-9 2010 will do away with 239.8 (Neoplasms of unspecified nature; other specified sites).


239.81 -- Neoplasms of unspecified nature, ...
... retina and choroid

239.89 -- other specified sites.


Gear up to use two new, more specific codes for endometrial endometrial hyperplasia. ICD-9 2010 adds the following codes:


621.34 -- Benign endometrial hyperplasia

621.35 -- Endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN).


To keep pace with these new codes and get more insight on pathology coding updates, go for pathology coding conferences. In fact there are medical coding conferences coming up where you can head to and get to know about all the ICD-9 2010 changes affecting your specialty amongst a host of other information.

Orlando, FL is one place which will be of immense benefit to you, what with medical coding conferences slated for the year end.


Gain knowledge about medical coding by attending proper medical coding conferences along with premier coding experts, CDs, tapes and transcripts of coding training information by specialty.