ICD-10-CM is an alphanumeric diagnostic coding system. It contains 68,065 codes compared to 14,025 diagnosis codes in ICD-9-CM.
ICD-10-PCS is an alphanumeric procedure classification system for hospital inpatients only. ICD-10-PCS contains 72,589 procedure codes compared to 3,824 ICD-9-CM procedure codes.
Updates:
Aug 15, 2008 - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Press Release by HHS titled "HHS Proposes Adoption of ICD-10 Code Sets and Updated Electronic Transaction Standards"
Excerpt: "HHS today announced a long-awaited proposed regulation that would replace the ICD-9-CM code sets now used to report health care diagnoses and procedures with greatly expanded ICD-10 code sets, effective Oct. 1, 2011." [see updated implementation date below]
Jan 15, 2009 - HHS
HHS modifies HIPAA code sets (ICD-10) and electronic transactions standards; final rules; compliance date for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS classification sets is established as October 1, 2013
Mar 17, 2009
Final rules for the adoption and implementation of ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS became effective Mar 17, 2009. The compliance date for the two classification sets is established as Oct 1, 2013.
Timeline - When to start learning ICD-10?
Educators will be trained on ICD-10-CM/PCS first. AHIMA recommends that one-year coding programs switch to teaching only ICD-10-CM/PCS coding in Aug 2012 (Academic timeline, Journal of AHIMA). During 2010-2011, both coding systems are taught with emphasis on ICD-9-CM. It's anticipated that starting in Jun-Sep 2013, students sitting for the CCA, CCS, CCS-P, RHIT, and RHIA certifications exams will do so under ICD-10-CM/PCS.
Updates:
For the Record - ICD-10 Timetable, by Lindsey Getz, Mar 2010
Anatomy & Physiology
In the meantime, you can familiarize yourself with the main concepts of ICD-10. It's also a good idea to brush up on your medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology knowledge because ICD-10-CM/PCS coding requires a strong background in the biomedical sciences.
Updates:
A new book called 'Advanced Anatomy and Physiology for ICD-10' will be published in June 2010. See the A & P page.
