REIMBURSEMENT ADVISER

That time of year: Turn back the clock, watch H1N1 flu return, and adopt a new ICD-9 code set

Codes have been revised, clarified, and added (swine flu, for one). Our expert explains what the newly issued set means for ObGyn practice.

Ms. Witt is an independent coding and documentation consultant and former program manager, department of coding and nomenclature, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The author reports no financial relationships relevant to this article.

Additions and revision to this year’s International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM)—which go into effect on October 1—reflect tinkering with existing codes and expansion of others to boost granularity and clarity in your reporting of diagnostic work. To that add a number of new codes—including one that acknowledges the arrival of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus nationwide.