Almost a year after the world of coding was transformed by the implementation of ICD-10-CM/PCS, CMS released the 2017 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting along with more than 5,000 diagnosis and procedure code changes. The new codes and guidelines went into effect October 1, but not without some controversy. Many of the changes were praised for the increased clarity and level of detail they allow providers to capture. Other changes, though, raised questions and eyebrows and left some wondering what the Cooperating Parties may have intended.
As it does each year, CMS reviewed its packaging policies and proposed numerous modifications for 2017, finalizing a move to conditionally package at the claim level and deleting the controversial modifier used to identify separately reportable laboratory tests.
This week’s Medicare updates include a claims status category and claims status codes update, new waived tests, the reprocessing of some IPPS claims, and more!
