Chair, ACG National Affairs
ACG has previously alerted members that the grace period for using the wrong ICD-10 codes has ended. Beginning October 1, 2016, all Medicare claims must include valid ICD-10 codes to the highest level of specificity possible.
ACG members should also note that there have been recent updates to the ICD-10 code set. The 2017 ICD-10-CM files are to be used for discharges and patient encounters occurring from October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017.
The recent transition to the significantly expanded ICD-10 code set, as well this grace period ending September 30th, requires ACG members and GI practices to know the most appropriate diagnosis codes. Need help? Please visit the ACG Member ICD-10 Playbook. This website contains beneficial resources for your use, including the “ICD-9 to ICD-10 Coding Bridge” tool, which provides up-to-date ICD-10 code sets, and allows you to quickly compare any ICD-9 code to its corresponding ICD-10 code(s). Fortunately, ACG has also updated our handy charts which compare the ICD-9 codes and descriptions to their corresponding ICD-10 codes. Feel free to print these out for your practice. ACG has divided these charts into common GI categories.
Make sure you attend the 2016 ACG Postgraduate Course
The ACG 2016 Annual Scientific Meeting & Postgraduate Course will also provide assistance in better preparing your practice for ICD-10 coding changes, and help explain the transition into the ICD-10 coding system’s impact on GI providers.
Whitfield L. Knapple, MD, FACG
Chair, ACG National Affairs Committee