Cardiology-specific ICD-10 coding video released by CMS

CMS has released a new video detailing some common codes used by cardiologists as designated by the new, more-detailed ICD-10 system.

“There are clear benefits to more specific documentation and coding,” Mark Bieniarz, MD, FACC, chief of cardiovascular services, Lovelace Medical Center, New Mexico Heart Institute, said in the video. “If we have coding requirements that necessitate more specificity, then that’s going to bring about better communication between physicians. Finally, better documentation will produce databases that are more easily interrogated for research and for quality outcome measures. Overall, I think it’s a very positive thing for medicine in general.”

Mandy Willis, an ICD-10 trainer, said in the video that while the number of codes overall has increased, hypertension disease codes have decreased by almost half. Willis provides several examples of the use of the coding system and shares tips for preparing for the transition.

In the video, she demonstrates some of the differences between ICD-9 and ICD-10 using hypothetical patient scenarios. The use of unspecified codes and situations in which a claim may be rejected also are discussed. She said that new types of classifications exist to create a more robust picture of a patient’s health and needs, such as ways to describe noncompliance in terms of financial hardship, disability due to age or other issues.

“We want to be evidence based in the decisions that we make, and better data allow us to take a step in that direction,” Bieniarz said.

CMS encourages clinicians and other health care providers who are interested in learning more about ICD-10 coding and the use of codes specific to cardiology to visit http://www.roadto10.org for more information.