Sep

22

Effectively research your ICD-9-CM coding questions

By HIM Connection

Follow these steps when researching an ICD-9-CM coding question:

1. Start with the ICD-9-CM Manual. You can resolve many ICD-9-CM coding questions by carefully studying the ICD-9-CM Manual itself, paying particular attention to typographical conventions and the various notes included throughout the Manual.
2. Review the official guidelines. The Public Health Service and CMS jointly publish the Official ICD-9-CM Guidelines for Coding and Reporting. The following organizations helped develop and approve these guidelines:
   • American Hospital Association (AHA)
   • AHIMA
   • CMS
   • National Center for Health Statistics
3. Review Coding Clinic. Coding Clinic is a newsletter published by the AHA. Representatives from the four organizations listed above review and approve each issue of Coding Clinic. You can order a subscription or back issues of Coding Clinic from the AHA by calling 800/AHA-2626.

This tip was adapted from the handbook, Coding and You: What Every Healthcare Professional Should Know. For ordering information, visit the HCMarketplace.