How will ICD-9-CM expansion affect outpatient coding?
Q: We have heard about possible expansion of ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes for the new UB-04 claim form. Do you have any insight as to how this will affect outpatient coding and OPPS? A: CMS institutional providers may use the UB-04 beginning March 1, 2007, however, they will have a transitional period between March 1, 2007 and May 22, 2007 where they can use the UB-04 or the UB-92. Starting May 23, 2007, all institutional paper claims must use the UB-04. The UB-92 will no longer be accepted after this date. See CMS Transmittal 1018 , issued July 28, 2006, for more details. The National Uniform Billing Committee made significant upgrades to the UB-04 form locator (FL) fields. The following ICD-9-CM diagnosis requirements are effective for outpatient reporting as listed below. Remember that although you must report ICD-9-CM procedure codes through your technology or encoder, per CMS, ICD-9-CM procedure codes are not part of the outpatient HIPAA data set, and the agency will not accept these
