Why doesn CMS just add an additional digit to ICD-9-CM procedures or change some of the digits to alpha characters?
Taking the existing system and simply adding more digits would involve the same systems costs as simply moving to a new, logical system with an increased number of digits. Some industry representatives have stated that the suggested approach amounts to putting a new transmission into a 10-year-old car whose engine is worn out. There is no point putting a new transmission into a car whose engine is shot (with the exception of collectors who do not actually use the car as their primary source of transportation). It has outlived its usefulness and at some point, you have to make the investment to buy a new car. We cannot afford to maintain a coding system that has outlived its usefulness. CMS evaluated a number of options for updating ICD-9-CM procedures. These were discussed at public meetings of the ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee. There was no support for adding an additional digit to the current ICD-9-CM procedure codes. System costs to expand the field size would not
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