LogixHealth Analyzes Newly Released ICD-10 Code Changes That Become Effective on October 1, 2016

BEDFORD, MA--(Marketwired - Mar 29, 2016) - LogixHealth, a leading provider of internet and software enabled coding, billing, analytics and management services for hospital and physician practices nationwide, provides services for millions of Emergency Department (ED) visits across 35 states, and has analyzed the recently released ICD-10 code changes.

There was a partial freeze in place that significantly limited changes to the ICD-9 and ICD-10 code sets in the lead up to the implementation of ICD-10; that freeze has been in effect for several years and is now drawing to a close. The last regular, annual updates to the ICD-9 and ICD-10 code sets were in 2011. Subsequently, on October 1 of each of the last four years (2012-2015) there were only limited updates released, each of which had to be related to the capture of new technologies or diseases. During the multi-year partial freeze the ICD9/ICD10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee continued to meet twice yearly. Code requests unrelated to new technologies or diseases were put aside for consideration after October 1, 2016 once the ICD-10 transition had been completed and the partial freeze had ended.

"CMS has now ended the partial freeze allowing the continued expansion and functioning of the ICD code set", states Michael Granovsky MD, CPC, FACEP, President of LogixHealth. The October 1, 2016 update will include the backlog proposals for changes to the ICD-10 code set proposed via the ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee process during the multiple years of the partial code freeze.

As of October 1, 2016 there will be 75,625 valid ICD-10-PCS codes, which includes 3,651 newly added codes and 487 revised code titles. 97% (3,549) of the newly added codes are cardiovascular system codes. Of the new cardiovascular system codes, 3,084 (84%) are related to codes for multiple intraluminal devices. Other new codes include those related to lower extremity joints, allowing for more detailed surgical descriptions, and the addition of unique unicondylar knee replacement codes.

About LogixHealth:
LogixHealth, a leading provider of internet and software enabled coding, billing, analytics and management services for hospital and physician practices nationwide, provides services for millions of Emergency Department (ED) visits across over 35 states. We provide tools and resources to optimize financial performance and improve the quality of care. For more information, visit www.logixhealth.com.