HCPro, JustCoding Outpatient - 2017 Issue 37 (September)
Get acquainted with 2018 ICD-10-CM codes, documentation requirements
September 12th, 2017
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Article Overview
This article previews selected 2018 ICD-10-CM changes that are relevant to outpatient coding, with emphasis on broad documentation and guideline updates. It covers major topic areas such as myocardial infarction, vision loss, substance abuse in remission, antenatal screening, and non-pressure chronic ulcers, and explains why these updates matter for coding specificity, reporting, and medical necessity documentation. It is intended for coders and coding professionals preparing for the implementation date and reviewing how the revised code set affects common outpatient scenarios.
Why This Topic Matters
The 2018 ICD-10-CM update introduced extensive changes, and this article helps coding professionals understand which clinical areas were affected and what documentation themes to watch for before the effective date.
Article Sections
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Introduction
Overview of the 2018 ICD-10-CM update, the implementation timeline, and the broad categories of change discussed in the article.
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Myocardial infarctions
Discussion of the myocardial infarction update, including the new organizational framework and the documentation focus for outpatient coding.
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Vision loss codes
Summary of the new ophthalmology-related blindness and low vision codes, including the general documentation concepts tied to visual acuity reporting.
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Substance abuse in remission
Coverage of the new remission-related substance abuse codes and the documentation considerations associated with reporting them.
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Antenatal screening
Overview of the new antenatal screening codes and the broader types of pregnancy-related screening situations they address.
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Non-pressure chronic ulcer specificity
Discussion of the expanded chronic ulcer coding detail and the documentation themes related to ulcer location and severity.
What You Will Learn
- Which major ICD-10-CM topic areas changed for 2018.
- How the article frames outpatient documentation needs tied to updated coding categories.
- Why greater specificity matters for selected ophthalmology, pregnancy screening, and chronic ulcer topics.
- What broad implementation issues coders should review before the effective date.
Who Should Read This
- Outpatient coders
- Coding compliance professionals
- Coding educators
- Healthcare documentation staff
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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