News: Comments on C&M code proposals due April 8

After a five-year code freeze, the ICD-10 classification system will be back on a regular cycle for annul updates. The ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee met on March 9 and 10 to review proposals for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS that, if approved, would be included in the October 1, 2017 classification system addenda for fiscal year (FY) 2018.

Comments on the code proposals presented at the meeting are due April 8. E-mail comments on ICD-10-PCS proposals to ICDProcedureCodeRequest@cms.hhs.gov. E-mail comments on ICD-10-CM proposals to nchsicd10@cdc.gov.

All PCS codes to date that have been approved as new, revised, and deleted have been compiled into a file for review. For the October 1, 2016 update, there are currently 75,625 PCS code updates—including 3,651 new codes and 487 revised codes. Of the new codes, 3,549 are cardiovascular system codes, including unique device values, the addition of bifurcation as a qualifier, additional specific body parts, and congenital cardiac procedures and placement of an intravascular neuro stimulator.

Check out the meeting materials for a complete list of diagnosis code proposals that have been requested for October 2016 implementation. For all code proposals not involving a request for implementation this October, the comment due date is May 6.

A list of new and revised ICD-10-PCS codes becoming effective October 1, 2016 (excluding code proposals presented at the March C&M meeting) is available at the CMS website. The proposed rule will be available in April, with the final rule available August 1, 2016. June 2016 is when the full final code updates and addendum will be published.