Why is ICD-10-CM necessary?
The ICD-9 code set is more than 30 years old and is obsolete. It is no longer considered usable for today’s treatment, reporting, and payment processes. It does not reflect advances in medical technology and knowledge. It is divided into chapters based on anatomical systems. Some of the more complex body systems have run out of codes, resulting in new codes being assigned to other chapters and anatomical areas. The ICD-10-CM code set is more flexible for expansion and for the inclusion of new technologies and diagnoses. The ICD-10-CM code set recognizes advances in medicine and uses current medical terminology. The code format is expanded, which means that it has the ability to include greater detail within the code and thus provide more specific information about the diagnosis. Many believe that the more specific data will facilitate better identification of diagnosis trends, public health needs, epidemic outbreaks and bioterrorist attacks. They will also, we hope, lead to fewer rejec
