ICD-10: Don't Forget: '2018' Dx Revisions Start October 1

Why This Topic Matters

General surgery practices need to understand ICD-10-CM update areas that can affect diagnosis reporting, documentation, and quality measurement. Knowing which broad categories changed helps teams prepare for annual code-set updates and review provider documentation needs.

Article Sections

1. Update Intestinal Obstruction Coding

   Discusses ICD-10-CM changes affecting intestinal obstruction and related postoperative categories. The section centers on increased specificity introduced for these diagnoses.

2. Expand Non-Pressure-Ulcer Options

   Covers updated ulcer diagnosis reporting for chronic, non-pressure ulcers across multiple body sites. It emphasizes the broader need for more detailed clinical documentation.

3. Add Details to ‘Breast Lump’ Procedures

   Reviews breast-related diagnosis updates tied to lump reporting and anatomic specificity. It also notes the relationship between diagnosis reporting and common breast procedures.

4. Augment These Codes for Specificity

   Summarizes additional ICD-10-CM revisions affecting several other diagnosis categories encountered in general surgery. The section highlights expansions and revised descriptors without covering the full list.

5. There’s More

   Provides closing context about the scope of the update cycle and points readers to additional resources. It frames the article as a partial overview rather than a complete inventory.