Should I Get The ICD-10-CM Code Books Prior To The Implementation Deadline?

The ICD, or International Classification of Diseases, is a publication listing all of the circumstances known to cause human fatalities. As scientific research within the medical industry is continual, the ICD is constantly revised to add and amend material. This post outlines what the ICD codes are used for.

Small changes are made each year (such as the re-naming of conditions and treatments), and each decade or so brings about major changes. Major changes call for new revisions, which are made available to the public, who is given a deadline by which to implement the new revision.

Many U.S. hospitals and practitioners still use the ninth revision (ICD-9-CM), even though the tenth (ICD-10-CM) was released in 2007. The implementation deadline for ICD-10-CM is October 1, 2013. You can see this post for more on the differences between ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM.


Many medical coders ask if they should get ICD-10-CM code books before the 2013 deadline, and the answer is that they absolutely should. To the medical coders out there, here is why getting the new books ahead of time is in your best interest:

• The implementation deadline is NOT flexible. The official website for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provides an engaging PDF document about ICD-10 codes. The document addresses myths surrounding the October 2013 conversion deadline, the biggest myth being that the deadline is flexible. (link below)
• Because the implementation date is not flexible, getting the books now makes conversion less hectic. Don’t leave yourself a time crunch once 2013 rolls around.
• Adapting sooner to the new system will settle any qualms with it. You may not be open to change, but familiarizing yourself with the changes early gives you time to see and appreciate why significant revisions were made. Resisting inevitable change does more to help you drown than swim.
• The longer you wait, the more coding books will cost. As businesses scramble to meet the deadline, book providers will easily raise prices to take advantage of the book demand.

For a list of the most current medical coding books see this page.

Reference: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/downloads/ICD-10MythsandFacts.pdf

What's The Difference Between ICD-9CM And ICD-10-CM?

Before discussing the distinction between ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM, let’s first break down the structure of the two terms:

• “ICD” stands for “International Classification of Diseases.” The International Classification of Diseases, as the name suggests, is a published system of disease coding for all known diseases and factors proven to result in fatalities.
• The number following “ICD” refers to the revision; revising is a constant process for ICD.
• “CM” stands for “Clinical Modification,” which means that diagnosis and treatment codes have been added to the coded afflictions/circumstances of death. ICD codes only cover causes of death, whereas ICD-CM also includes treatments.

So, what is the difference between ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM?
The difference is the revision: ICD-9-CM is the ninth revision of the International Classification of Diseases, whereas ICD-10-CM is the tenth revision. When enough developments occurred to medical coding, the World Health Organization decided to draft a next revision. First made available in 1993 and redone in 2007, the tenth revision (ICD-10-CM) is set to officially replace ICD-9-CM in October 2013.


See this post for info on using older medical coding books.

In the meantime, ICD-9-CM remains more popular in the United States because many medical centers and offices haven’t yet converted. Overseas, however, ICD-10-CM has been used for years because of its elevated specificity; it features nearly five times the number of codes in the previous revision because codes now describe diagnoses and treatments.

We’re feeling the crunch to adapt to ICD-10 because it will help U.S. medicine compare records and interact professionally with overseas medical centers. Otherwise, it’s somewhat like comparing notes in yards to another person’s notes in meters.

While implementing ICD-10-CM signifies a great change for American medical coding and will bring the United States up to speed with the rest of the medical world, the eleventh revision is expected for first publication in 2015. Some critics of ICD-10-CM suggest skipping it entirely and waiting for the release of ICD-11, the implementation date is nowhere near close on the horizon for the medical community. Instead, the U.S. medical community is intent on completing the ICD-10 transition by October 2013.

See this page for direct links to current medical coding books.

What Are The ICD-9-CM Codes Used For?

As you are likely to already know, the medical industry operates on a series of codes to describe diagnoses and treatments. Just like mathematics, medicine operates as a universal system.

A patient seeing a doctor in Tennessee for chronic coughing and chest pain can be referred to someone in Nebraska with a code to follow – a number that conveys the exact problem to another doctor miles and customs away.

ICD-9-CM codes are a specific type of medical coding, and you first have to break down the name structure to understand what they’re for:

1. First of all, “ICD” stands for “International Classification of Diseases.” ICD is a publishes system of disease coding for all known diseases and factors proven to result in fatalities.
2. The number 9 refers to the revision; thus, “ICD-9” indicates that it is the ninth revision of the publication. New revisions come out when significant enough changes have been made to necessitate an entirely separate publication.
3. “CM” stands for “Clinical Modification,” which indicates that diagnosis and treatment codes have been added to the coded afflictions/circumstances of death. ICD codes only cover causes of death, whereas ICD-CM also includes treatments.

Medical coders use ICD-9-CM codes when billing insurance companies or other payers of a medical service. These codes describe everything from the medical problem that brought the patient to the hospital to the treatment’s results. 


Matching the diagnosis and treatment codes also keeps a thorough file of a hospital or practice’s activity. If the office’s integrity comes into question, a medical coder can refer back to the file with ninth revision code books in hand to make sure the file is straight.

Because this is the ninth revision in a constantly revised publication, soon its codes will be discontinued. However, until October 2013, it will continue to be used to record medical diagnoses and treatments as well as bill insurance companies and payers.

You may have further questions on revisions. If so see this post on using prior year's medical coding books.