Do you know how much information you will need to accurately assign an ICD-10-CM code? ICD-10-CM uses three to seven alpha and numeric digits and full code titles, even though the format is very much the same as ICD-9-CM (e.g., ICD-10-CM has the same hierarchical structure as ICD-9-CM).

The changes in ICD-10-CM are in its organization and structure, code composition and level of detail. This new ICD-10-CM structure will allow for further expansion that was previously not possible with ICD-9-CM as more positions in more chapters are left open and available for future modifications.

Let’s take look at acne, one of the most frequently reported in a dermatology practice. In ICD-9-CM we code acne as 706.1, whereas in ICD-10-CM we will need to have enough information provided in the patient medical record defining what type of acne the patient is presenting.

For example: