Pathology coding: ICD-9 2010 changes to provide more specificity

Still sticking to generic neuroendocrine cancerwill do away with 239.8 (Neoplasms of unspecified
codes? If so, your claims will lack ICD-9’snature; other specified sites).
specificity requirement. Try to avoid this.•239.81 -- Neoplasms of unspecified nature,
Most of the ICD-9 2010 changes expand diseaseretina and choroid
subcategories to provide more specific•239.89 -- other specified sites.
descriptions. Getting new diagnosis codes that• Gear up to use two new, more specific
provide additional specificity can certainly be a pluscodes for endometrial endometrial hyperplasia.
point for coding accuracy. The following changesICD-9 2010 adds the following codes:
effective October 1 will certainly help you avoid• 621.34 -- Benign endometrial hyperplasia
this error.• 621.35 -- Endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia
• ICD-9 2010 comes up with six new diagnosis(EIN).
codes that describe Merkel cell carcinoma, anTo keep pace with these new codes and get
aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer that tendsmore insight on pathology coding updates, go for
to grow quickly and may metastasize at an earlypathology coding conferences. In fact there are
stage. Such spefice codes for Merkel cellmedical coding conferences coming up where you
wasn’t there before this.can head to and get to know about all the ICD-9
• The ICD-9 committee stated that 209.30 is2010 changes affecting your specialty amongst a
not appropriate for Merkel cell carcinoma ofhost of other information.
unknown site. If the primary site in unknown,Orlando, FL is one place which will be of immense
you’ll have to take your coding hunt tobenefit to you, what with medical coding
209.75.conferences slated for the year end.
• Go for 239.89 instead of 239.8. ICD-9 2010