With approximately 68,000 codes (nearly five times the number of codes as ICD-9), the ICD-10 system can seem daunting. In addition to an expansion in the number of codes, with flexibility for new code development, ICD-10 codes themselves are also longer in length using 3 to 7 digits versus 3 to 5 digits.

The deadline to implement ICD-10 was October 1st, 2015. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) did agree to a one-year grace period in which incorrect claims will not be denied as long as the diagnosis code submitted is within the appropriate family of codes.

The ICD-10 code set allows for more specific documentation of a diagnosis or procedure for billing and data tracking. The increased detail provided in the ICD-10 coding system better accommodates new procedures and technologies, supporting outcomes and reimbursement policies for medical interventions. Better data will serve providers and payors with essential information to guide disease management programs and reimbursement.

To help wound care providers in transitioning from ICD-9 to ICD-10, we have compiled some helpful resources.

Resources for ICD-10 Implementation

Following are government and organization resources to support you in effectively implementing ICD-10 in your practice:

CMS "ICD-10 Quick Start Guide" [PDF]
CMS list of provider resources

Resources for ICD-10 Training

Training is an essential component of properly implementing ICD-10 in your practice. Following are a couple of resources to support training and skill assessment for your staff:

World Health Organization ICD-10 Interactive Self Learning Tool
American Academy of Professional Coders (AACP) ICD-10 Training

Resources for ICD-10 Codes

Easy-access tools are available to lookup and/or convert codes. Consider adding the following resources to your ICD-10 toolkit:

List of specialty specific code cheat sheets
Code converter (works for all ICD-9 and ICD-10 procedure and diagnosis codes)
ICD-10 browser (use to browse or search for codes)
List of ICD-10 codes from Wikipedia

Did we miss any great resources? As you put your ICD-10 planning and training into practice, let us know in the comments section what tools, resources and strategies you have found useful in effectively implementing the new coding set and we will keep this post up-to-date!