In October, 2015, for the first time in more than three decades, the American Medical Association (AMA), revised its universal medical billing codes, replacing ICD-9 with ICD-10. Since 1979, physicians, medical secretaries, and other healthcare professionals have used the same set of medical billing codes in ICD-9 and now, the world has to reprogram, rethink, and relearn the nuances of each medical code.
Below are main points regarding the transition for the uninitiated:
Like most transitions, the change from ICD-9 to ICD-10 has been a difficult one for medical practitioners and their employees across the country. Understanding all the new codes, with their nuances and modern medical terminology gives way to many human errors and frustration in the process. To mitigate the interruption, the AMA has provided implementation resources and educational tools including explanations and contact information to speak with a representative. The AMA hopes ICD-10 will last for many years and that future changes will merely involve additions to the current system, instead of a complete overhaul.
To find out more about medical services by Quantak, visit our Medical Billing and Healthcare page.