Get the Most out of the Final Nine Months until ICD-10-CM/PCS

By Melanie Endicott

Now that 2014 is here, it’s time to really get serious about ICD-10-CM/PCS preparation. Coders should already have some basic knowledge of the ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS code sets, and now it’s time to move to a more advanced level of training.

Many organizations have very structured plans for training their coders during these last nine months leading up to October 1. However, there are thousands of coders out there that are “on their own” and must train themselves. Below is a suggested timeline:

January

• ICD-10-CM Conventions and General Guidelines
• ICD-10-CM Chapters 1 and 2: Guidelines and Notes
• ICD-10-PCS Conventions, Guidelines and Approaches*

February

• ICD-10-CM Chapters 3, 4 and 5: Guidelines and Notes
• ICD-10-PCS Root Operations: Excision, Resection, Detachment, Destruction and Extraction*

March

• ICD-10-CM Chapters 6, 7 and 8: Guidelines and Notes
• ICD-10-PCS Root Operations: Drainage, Extirpation and Fragmentation*

April

• ICD-10-CM Chapters 9 and 10: Guidelines and Notes
• ICD-10-PCS Root Operations: Division and Release*

May

• ICD-10-CM Chapters 11 and 12: Guidelines and Notes
• ICD-10-PCS Root Operations: Transplantation, Reattachment, Transfer and Reposition*

June

• ICD-10-CM Chapters 13 and 14: Guidelines and Notes
• ICD-10-PCS Root Operations: Restriction, Occlusion, Dilation and Bypass*

July

• ICD-10-CM Chapters 15, 16 and 17: Guidelines and Notes
• ICD-10-PCS Root Operations: Insertion, Replacement, Supplement, Change, Removal and Revision*

August

• ICD-10-CM Chapters 18 and 19: Guidelines and Notes
• ICD-10-PCS Root Operations: Inspection, Map, Control and Repair*

September

• ICD-10-CM Chapters 20 and 21: Guidelines and Notes
• ICD-10-PCS Root Operations: Fusion, Alteration and Creation*

* ICD-10-PCS codes are required for reporting in the hospital inpatient setting. Coders in the outpatient, physician office, and other non-inpatient settings may not need to learn ICD-10-PCS (depending on their employer requirements).

Melanie Endicott, MBA/HCM, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA, is senior director of HIM practice excellence, coding and CDI products development at AHIMA. She has over 15 years experience in HIM and coding, with her most recent focus being in ICD-10-CM/PCS, and has presented numerous times at the regional, state, and national levels on HIM and coding topics. She was previously a director of HIM practice excellence, focusing on coding products, resources, and education, at AHIMA. Melanie is an AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainer and an ICD-10 Ambassador.