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ICD9 vs ICD 10 - Ally

Posted: Feb 25, 2015

Some advice please...Looking into the Medical Coding field and wondering is it beneficial to just focus on learning ICD-10 or is ICD-9 needed before learning ICD-10. What are or will be the differences between them? Would it be too confusing to a new coder to learn ICD-9 and transition into ICD-10 so quickly? I currently do not plan to have training finished before October, focusing on Ant/Phy and Medical terminology first. Thank you.

Coding - NewStudent

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I recently started school for coding, I am doing ICD-10, come October ICD-9 will be obsolete and I think it would be more confusing to learn ICD-9 and then learn ICD-10. My sister-in-law works for an insurance company and she says ICD-10 is more involved and complicated and that is what everyone will be using in October.

Which program - Ally

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Which coding program have are you enrolled in? And do you like it? Thanks

School - NewStudent

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I just enrolled in Andrews and am almost ready to take the first coding test of module I, I went there for MT school so I know they provide a great education. I just go through the terminology tests since I already know that and focus more on coding. I've just started, but so far it seems to be great and I like that they have instructors. I think if you know medical terminology already or have medical background, it helps a lot. They also have deadlines which helps me since it keeps me on track.

At this late date, it gets messy. - Coder

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At this late date, it gets very messy. You do not know for certain if ICD-10 will be implemented.

I suppose it depends on what kind of coding you want to do. If outpatient, you can do that with a 3 to 4 month AAPC course, take the CPC in ICD-9, and be working by October, at which point you will have to switch. If inpatient, it will take about a year, so you might want to start with ICD-10.

What is your school teaching? Why are you not going with that?

Be aware that AHIMA has requirements for their exams now. Unless your course meets them, you cannot sit those exams. A&P and med terms are not enough.

Planning on - Ally

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My plans are taking the courses through the AAPC either Physician or Outpatient. I first think I need to get a good grasp on the ANT/PHY and Medical Terms needed per their recommendation.

My background lies in Accounting, so doing this step first will help later on in the coding training. I plan to the AAPC courses for everything including the Practicode to remove the A- apprentice designation. At this point I am not planning on inpatient coding, maybe a few years down the road.

I was just concerned learning the ICD9 then having to switch to ICD10 so quickly would be confusing to a new coder.

Quite a few people I have seen have used Andrews. Andrews says after their course you could sit for the CCS, I thought you needed a couple of years coding after training to sit for this; so are Andrews grads sitting for the CCS or CCA?

CCS right out of school from Andrews - anon

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I took the CCS a month after graduating and passed. I copied this from AHIMA site on requirements for CCS:CCS and CCS-P Eligibility Requirements
Candidates must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:
â�¢ By Credential: RHIA, RHIT, or CCS/CCS-P;
OR
â�¢ By Education: Completion of a coding training program that includes anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology,
pharmacology, medical terminology, reimbursement methodology, intermediate/advanced ICD
diagnostic/procedural and CPT coding;
OR
â�¢ By Experience: Minimum of two (2) years of related coding experience directly applying codes;
OR
â�¢ By Credential
with Experience: CCA plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes;
OR
â�¢ Other: Coding credential from other certifying organization plus one (1) year coding experience directly
applying codes

Note the 2nd requirement detailing education required to sit for exam.

icd 10 - kt16

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By the time you pass A&P and terminology, there will have been a decision about the ICD 10 and you will ONLY take that. No need for ICD 9 if it is becoming obsolete in october

Obsolete? Never need ICD-9 again? - Hmmm

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Well, I wonder what we will do with things that occurred prior to Oct 1? You know, like things that still need to be coded, or audited, or that got rejected by an insurance company?

Or that will be submitted to an exempt insurer?

Or how she is going to pass the AAPC exams that will still be in ICD-9 until they are converted?

Hmmm ....

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