ICD-11 Is Coming - Start Preparations Now
The ICD-10 frenzy came and went. Armageddon type preparations were made for the major overhaul ICD-10 brought about. Employers hired extra coding staff in preparation of possible delays while coders adjusted to the higher levels of specificity. Now ICD-11 is coming and preparations have begun. Let’s look at what ICD-11 will bring and how you can be part of the upcoming changes.
ICD-11 has been in the works since 2007, even before the implementation of ICD-10. In June of 2018, ICD-11 version was released to Member States. By May of 2019 ICD-11 will be presented to the WHO for endorsement by Member States. By January, 2022 all reporting will be conducted using ICD-11.
With change comes adaptations for a seasoned coder:
The new code sets for I-11 will no longer have “I” codes for cardiology or “O” codes for obstetrics
ICD-11 will also include alpha characters for the second character and the first will be either alpha or numeric (I-10 the first character is always alpha)
Code formatting will now have four characters before the decimal and up to three characters after
Additional codes for specificity, laterality and anatomy will be added to assist in describing associated conditions or manifestations
More chapters are coming:
One set of codes to be added will include the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS)
Meanings for hypertension will change
“Code also” instructions will receive noted changes
More casual relationships between conditions will be associated with such terms as ‘due to’ in their code title
Concurrence of two conditions will have new code titles with terms such as ‘associated with’
A new concept of cluster coding will be introduced marking codes that are post-coordinated for describing one condition
Big changes are coming, and as usual, so comes the anxiety; decreased by preparing in advance. Many resources are available online allowing you to view changes proposed so far.
Visit the ICD-11 site now and familiarize yourself with what’s to come.
