by Christine Woolstenhulme, QMC QCC CMCS CPC CMRS
Sep 12th, 2016
Starting October 1 Medicare will no longer accept unspecified codes if there is a more specific code that should be applied. The 12 month grace period will soon be over. Medicare contractors stated they would process claims with a valid ICD-10 code and not audit claims if they were within the same family during the first year of ICD-10.
It will now be required to use ICD-10 as it was meant to be used, to precisely describe diseases and conditions, remember, do not use unspecified codes if there is a more accurate code. Providers should now be familiar with ICD-10 and not have a problem coding to the highest specificity.
About Christine Woolstenhulme, QMC QCC CMCS CPC CMRS
Christine Woolstenhulme, CPC, QCC, CMCS, CMRS, is a Certified coder and Medical Biller with 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry.
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