Six New Requirements of ICD-10-CM for OB/GYN

Every specialty will have its own unique changes and challenges with the transition to ICD-10-CM. In the ICD-10-CM manual, there are many new requirements for OB/GYNs. In large part, they require increased specificity. As a result, providers may need to take a good look at their documentation and start making changes now if it isn’t up to these standards.

These are several key examples to help show how the documentation and coding will changes for OB/GYNs in ICD-10-CM. Since much of this relies of the level of detail in the documentation, you can start now. There is no reason to wait. The sooner you start improving documentation the better.

To become familiar with the other codes that may be common in your practice, be sure to do code mapping of your top 50 or so ICD-9-CM codes to their ICD-10-CM equivalents. This will give you a chance not only to get familiar with the new codes but also to look at what other detail might need to be included in your documentation.

If you find that your documentation is really lacking detail and you are not sure how to improve it in preparation for ICD-10-CM, consider hiring a documentation improvement specialist to work with you ahead of the October 1 deadline. Your bank account will thank you for the extra effort!

- Michelle Cavanaugh, RN, CPC, CANPC, CGIC, CPB, CMRS, is an American Health Information Management Association approved ICD-10-CM trainer, certified coder, certified professional biller, and certified medical reimbursement specialist at Kareo.