Diagnosis coding corner: Final FY 2020 ICD-10-CM changes include hundreds of new tabular instructions

Why This Topic Matters

Yearly ICD-10-CM updates can affect how practices review documentation, maintain encoder references, and stay aligned with payer and reporting requirements. This summary helps readers identify which parts of the code set and tabular instructions were updated for FY 2020.

Article Sections

1. Overview of FY 2020 ICD-10-CM final changes

   Summarizes the scope of the final ICD-10-CM updates and the overall volume of additions, revisions, and deletions referenced in the article.

2. General examples of new codes and tabular instruction updates

   Highlights broad categories of coding changes described in the article, including new diagnoses, related sequencing notes, and tabular guidance updates.

3. Chapter 2: Neoplasms

   Describes selected tabular note revisions and clarifying terminology updates within the neoplasms chapter.

4. Chapter 6: Diseases of the nervous system

   Covers note changes involving selected nervous system and related diagnosis families, including updates to exclusion notes.

5. Chapter 9: Diseases of the circulatory system

   Summarizes note revisions and classification changes affecting selected circulatory system diagnosis categories.

6. Diseases of veins, lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes

   Notes additional clarifying terminology updates in the venous and lymphatic disease section of the circulatory chapter.

7. Chapter 16: Certain conditions in the perinatal period

   Reviews perinatal note changes, including clarifying-term updates and revised exclusion guidance for newborn-related diagnoses.

8. Chapter 21: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services

   Summarizes revised guidance for body mass index coding within the health status and contact with health services chapter.

9. FY 2020 guideline reference

   Points readers to follow-up coverage for the FY 2020 ICD-10-CM guidelines.