More ICD-10 Updates

Written by Reed Tinsley, CPA | August 4, 2015

Clarifying Questions and Answers Related to CMS/AMA Joint Announcement and Guidance Regarding ICD-10 Flexibilities

On July 6, 2015, CMS and the American Medical Association (AMA) released a joint statement about their efforts to help the provider community get ready for ICD-10. This statement included guidance from CMS that allows for flexibility in the claims auditing and quality reporting processes.

In response to questions from the health care community, CMS has released Clarifying Questions and Answers Related to the July 6, 2015 CMS/AMA Joint Announcement and Guidance Regarding ICD-10 Flexibilities, which provides answers to the most commonly asked questions.

List of Valid ICD-10-CM Codes

CMS has posted a complete list of the 2016 ICD-10-CM valid codes and code titles on the 2016 ICD-10-CM and GEMs web page. The file is named icd10cm_codes_2016.txt. This file will be useful for physician offices and other providers who want to check to make sure that they are reporting all characters in a valid ICD-10-CM code. The codes are listed in tabular order (the order found in the ICD-10-CM code book). This list should assist providers who are unsure if additional characters are needed, such as the addition of a 7th character in order to arrive at a valid code.

A similar list of the 2016 ICD-10-PCS valid codes and code titles is available on the 2016 ICD-10 PCS and GEMs web page. The file is named icd10pcs_codes_2016.txt.

About the Author

Reed Tinsley CPA

This article is written by Reed Tinsley, a Houston, TX-based CPA with over 30 years of experience advising physicians and medical practices across Texas and the United States. Reed holds certifications as a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), Certified Healthcare Business Consultant (CHBC), and Certified Financial Planner (CFP), specializing exclusively in the healthcare sector. He is a published author, nationally recognized speaker, and trusted advisor to physicians on accounting & tax, practice management, and financial planning. Schedule a Free Consultation.

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