Diagnosis Coding: ICD-10's Little Words Make Big Differences

Why This Topic Matters

Annual guideline revisions can change how coders interpret documentation, apply sequencing guidance, and update coding policies and systems. Knowing which portions of the official guidelines changed helps teams stay aligned with current ICD-10-CM reporting expectations.

Article Sections

1. Look Out for These FY 2018 Guidelines Changes

   Introduces the FY 2018 ICD-10-CM guideline updates discussed in the article and frames the general areas affected by the revision.

2. Changes to Convention 15, 'With'

   Summarizes the guideline section addressing relational wording used in diagnosis coding and notes the broader impact on documentation interpretation.

3. Changes to Convention 17, 'Code also' note

   Covers the guideline update related to note interpretation and sequencing context within ICD-10-CM coding.

4. Resource

   Provides a source reference for the official FY 2018 ICD-10-CM guideline document and notes how changes are marked in that publication.