Identify strategies for talking to physicians about common ICD-10 objections

August 19th, 2015

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Note:  The following article synopsis was NOT provided by HCPro. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.

Article Overview

This article examines common physician concerns about ICD-10 implementation and presents a coder’s response to those objections. It is useful for coders, coding managers, HIM professionals, and physician office staff who need to prepare for transition-related questions, documentation concerns, code specificity issues, and broader skepticism about ICD-10 and ICD-11. The discussion focuses on how physician and coding perspectives can differ, and on general themes in documentation, productivity, reimbursement, and implementation readiness.

Why This Topic Matters

Understanding the sources of physician resistance can help coding teams communicate more effectively during ICD-10 transition planning. The article provides context for discussions about documentation expectations, code selection concerns, and workflow impact without requiring readers to rely on outside interpretation.

Article Sections

  1. Introduction

    Introduces the ICD-10 transition context and frames the discussion as a comparison between physician objections and coder responses. It also identifies the professional perspectives represented in the article.

  2. Documentation challenges

    Covers concerns about documentation specificity, terminology changes, and how physicians and coders view record support for diagnosis and procedure reporting. The section also addresses coder perspectives on documentation clarification and system expectations.

  3. Coding difficulties

    Discusses concerns about coding complexity, productivity, code selection variability, and how coders and physicians may experience diagnostic coding changes differently. It also touches on broader workflow and reimbursement implications.

  4. Moving straight to ICD-11

    Reviews the argument for postponing ICD-10 in favor of ICD-11 and presents a coder response to that position. The section places the transition debate in a broader international and health IT context.

What You Will Learn

  • Why physicians may resist ICD-10 transition efforts
  • How coders may respond to common objections about documentation and specificity
  • What general themes affect coding workflow during implementation
  • How ICD-10 and ICD-11 are discussed in the context of readiness and timing
  • How physician and coding perspectives can differ on reimbursement and record review

Who Should Read This

  • Medical coders
  • Coding managers
  • HIM professionals
  • Physician office staff
  • Healthcare compliance teams
  • Clinical documentation improvement staff

Codes Discussed

  • ICD-9-CM: 599.0
  • ICD-10-CM: A41.9

Code Ranges Discussed

  • ICD-10-CM: 038.x
  • MS-DRG: 689-690
  • MS-DRG: 870-872

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