On October 1, 2015, all healthcare business transactions in the United States must convert from the use of the ninth version of the International Classification of Disease (ICD-9) to the tenth version (ICD-10). This is a complete restructuring of the diagnosis codes used by hematologists every day. The transition will take place on a single day so there will not be any time to try the new diagnosis codes.
ASH will be helping members to prepare for this transition, primarily by giving examples of the changes in hematology diagnosis coding. Twice a month, a new disease category will be released, comparing the ICD-10 codes to the ICD-9. This review should give hematologists real examples so as to understand the effect on their individual practice.
If you have any questions about the implementation of ICD-10 or ASH’s resources, please contact ASH’s Senior Manager for Policy and Practice at bwhitman@hematology.org or 202-776-0544.