As of October 1, 2016, the CMS grace period for ICD-10 unspecified codes came to an end. If you are have noticed an increase in denials due to unspecified diagnosis codes, you may find the following information helpful in identifying areas of potential risk and providing education to your providers and staff on the proper ICD-10 codes to use.

CMS has prepared several resources and tools to assist in this process. Check out their Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/Frequently-Asked-Questions.html

Remember, most commercial payers follow Medicare’s lead, so make sure you are using the most specific codes possible for all of your coding.

If you need assistance with ICD-10 or any other Revenue Cycle Management or Practice Management issues, please contact us.