Stay Current with This 2019 Eye Care ICD-10-CM Code Updates Guide
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It’s never too early to start planning for the 2019 ICD-10-CM (diagnosis) eye-specific code changes that go into effect October 1, 2018.
Now that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) released the 2019 ICD-10-CM code changes earlier than last year, summer is the perfect time for you and your staff to get a head start.
Why You Need to Stay Current with ICD-10-CM Codes
To avoid delays in claim processing or denied claims, your practice should set aside time to do the following before the end of September 2018.
Review and become familiar with the new ICD-10-CM codes
Add new codes to your “favorites” list.
Review plans, assessments, and documents that were mapped from old codes to new codes.
Review and update “code rules” you created that are affected by the new and deleted 2019 codes.
Check with your optometry and ophthalmology industry associations for specific coding changes and resources.
Notable Changes with ICD-10-CM Codes in 2019
October 1, 2018, is the third mandated update to ICD-10-CM codes since ICD-10 codes went live on October 1, 2015. ICD-10-CM codes are divided into 21 chapters and are based on code subjects.
There are 92 new codes, 22 deleted codes, and 8 revised codes for eye-specific patient encounters occurring from October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019. Claims that have a service date of September 30, 2018, or earlier, must use the 2018 codes.
2019 ICD-10-CM codes changes affect Chapter 2 (Neoplasms), Chapter 6 (Diseases of the Nervous System), and Chapter 7 (Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa).
Most of the 2019 ICD-10-CM code changes provide greater specificity for documenting eyelid neoplasms and disorders if upper or lower eyelids are involved.
How EHR Software Helps with Embedded ICD-10 Tools
Your eye care electronic health records (EHR) and practice management software should provide automatic ICD-10 updates. The best systems, such as MaximEyes software, have a keyword searchable database to help you find codes without knowing them by heart.
Many EHR and practice management systems also allow you to save favorites—a time saver for sure, but also a potential headache when codes change. However, be careful when using “copy from previous” as some EHR and practice management systems will copy over removed codes.
Here’s a Simple ICD-10-CM Guide You Can Follow
We care about making sure you and your staff have the resources you need to stay current with the 2019 ICD-10-CM codes. That’s why we’ve created this free 2019 ICD-10-CM Eye-Specific Code Updates Guide you can download, with no contact information or form required! This simple guide includes a list of new, deleted, and revised codes for 2019.
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Do you need help staying on top of the latest ICD-10-CM code changes? Struggling with an unhealthy cash flow and high accounts receivable? The Fast Pay team is happy to help!
Fast Pay Health billing specialists are well-versed in CPT® and ICD-10 coding, billing with code modifiers, electronic data interchange (EDI) processes, industry standards, and maintaining 100% HIPAA compliance.
We take care of the billing hassle to maintain consistent cash flow and improve the turnaround time on your claims. Contact us for a free revenue cycle management practice analysis to see how we can help you.
