Health IT Leader Supports ICD-10 Transition
The
American Health Information Management Association has a long list of reasons why the organization
supports ICD-10, said its CEO, Lynne Thomas Gordon. Among those reasons are the improved patient care and research capabilities that are promised by ICD-10.
For instance, ICD-10 will address many gaps in ICD-9's current diagnosis codes, and the expanded codes will allow for better analysis of healthcare data and provide more flexibility as new medical advances and discoveries evolve, said Gordon.
Today, medical technology and treatment advancements cannot be accurately reflected in current ICD-9 coding, including devices used in cardiac care, spinal fusions, and drug eluting stents. Limitations in coding often translate to limitations in coverage and reimbursement or confusion, said Gordon.
"The whole purpose of ICD-10 is to improve quality," she said.
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