Table of Contents

Basic about ICD 9 to ICD 10 conversion

As we have started using ICD 10 codes, we will be facing difficulty in searching a code initially. As ICD 10 includes a lot of codes compared to ICD 9, we have to use some ICD 9 to ICD 10 conversion tool to get the correct ICD 10 codes. There is a lot of difference between ICD 9 and ICD 10 codes, but the guidelines are still similar. We are very familiar with ICD 9 codes, so we can just map ICD 9 code in ICD 10, it will be easy to find a diagnosis code in ICD 10. We are using ICD 9 to ICD 10 conversion tool, which is good to learn some common diagnosis like hypertension, which has ICD 10 code as I10. ICD 9 to ICD 10 migration was good, but to cope up with the transition from ICD 9 to ICD 10 will take some time. Hence, we should now use all the techniques and tool in learning and finding ICD 10 codes without any issues.

ICD 9 to ICD 10 conversion in AAPC

In AAPC website, we have ICD 9 to ICD 10 crosswalk, which will help in finding the correct ICD 10 code. ICD 9 to ICD 10 conversion is easy. Here, we have to just insert the ICD 9 code for the diagnosis and it will map the ICD 10 for that diagnosis. This tool saves a lot of time and helps in finding a correct ICD 10 code. However, be careful when you get a multiple option in ICD 10 because there are few specific codes for laterality like left, right, bilateral or unspecified.

Be careful with ICD 9 to ICD 10 conversion in Pregnancy codes

In ICD 10, we have around 4 to 5 times codes compared to ICD 9. The best example for the increase in ICD10 codes can be seen in pregnancy coding. While we had only one code for complication present during pregnancy or antepartum, in ICD-10 we will have four codes for same condition. The four codes will define the first, second, third and unspecified trimester. Hence, we should be very careful while using ICD 9 to ICD 10 conversion in pregnancy complication codes. But, for few ICD 9 pregnancy complication we can get more than 4 ICD 10 codes, for example in below image you can see code 646.83 has so many option in ICD 10 codes. Therefore, it totally depends upon your knowledge and skill of using ICD 9 to ICD 10 conversion tool. I would only say, ICD 10 is new for everyone, don’t worry if you do mistakes initially. We all learn from mistakes only.