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Wait on ICD-10 before enrolling in school? - boosa

Posted: Dec 28, 2011

Am a current Mt looking to get into coding, specifically looking at Andrews. I am not familiar with coding at all, so this may be a dumb question to those familiar with it - but here goes! Would it make more sense to wait until the implementation of ICD-10 to invest in the courses or is this a mute point pretty much? In other words, would it be easier to "transition" from 9 to 10 or start fresh with 10? Hope this makes sense and TIA for any input.

The best coders with the most job options are going to know both ICD-9 and ICD-10 - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
Lots of current coders are going into a panic and quitting or retiring early because they think they can't do ICD-10 when it starts in 2013. That will mean more jobs for those who realize it really isn't that hard. You need to know ICD-9-CM too though, because you're going to be dealing with charts including both for years to come. I would not take a course that was only ICD-10. You will be totally confused when you get out of class and into the real world of coding.

Do not wait on ICD-10 - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Waiting makes no sense! Did someone tell you this or did yo see it somewhere? I would love to know where it is coming from.

The only benefit to waiting will be for current coders and students. It will improve the job market and salaries for them, not for those who wait.

As someone noted,you will need to know both 9 and 10. If you do not know 9, how will you be able to deal with old records and coded data from the past? Schools will still be exposing students to 9 for a while to come.

These code sets are not two completely different concepts. What you learn about usng 9 will help with or even apply to 10.

Students often think the goal in learning coding is to memorize a lot of numbers. It isn't. The goal is to USE the code book to find what you need and to learn to identify what you need to code in medical documentation. This is pretty much the same.

Another reason not to wait is that you will lose productive earning time. If you begin now, you will finish in time to get certified and get settled in a job. Many employers will be augmenting their staff to compensate for the increased time that 10 will require. You will, I think, be better off entering the job market before the switch than during or after it.

Keep in mind that CPT HCCS coding is not changing. The move to ICD 10 is not changing everything about coding . . . it is just changing part of it. These changes are more difficult for institutions than for coders.

Thank you so much...sm - boosa

[ In Reply To ..]
Great responses. No one has specifically fed me this information - I just wasn't sure what the thinking out there was as I am not familiar with coding at all and didn't know the extent of the "changes." It makes perfect sense that you would need to know both. Thanks again for clarifying! Am leaning towards Andrews and looking forward to getting started in this field asap! :)

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