Combination codes

You might have heard that ICD-10 combines codes, but what does that mean ?

A distinguishing feature of ICD-10 is that it includes “combination codes.” These allow a physician to describe multiple diagnoses by using only 1 code or to describe a diagnosis with its complication. This  reduces the number of codes needed while still providing detailed information.

For example, in ICD-9 the codes for type 2 Diabetes with Retinopathy are:

250.5, diabetes with ophthalmic manifestations, and 362.01-362.07, retinopathy.

In comparison, the ICD-10 codes describing type 2 Diabetes with Retinopathy are several. For example:

E11.32: Type 2 diabetes with mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Much more straightforward.

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