By now, we’ve all had some time to get some experience in using the new ICD-10 codes, the latest version of the International Classification of Diseases code set, which the U.S. government mandated medical practices must switch to last October. Today with more than 68,000 billing codes the complexity has increased more than ever before. With ICD-11 codes officially in effect as of January 2022, the number of codeable terms has increased to 120,00!
The latest ICD codes are much more specific and are designed to streamline healthcare record keeping and billing. Since the deadline to transition to ICD-10 has just recently occurred, it’s not unusual for people to still be unfamiliar with all the new codes.
It’s prudent to work with the latest in electronic health record and practice management software to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes at your busy medical practice. The best software will include a feature to provide ICD-10 suggestions when staffers are still used to entering ICD-9 codes. Using the codes will not only help individual practices but is also supposed to assist medical researchers in identifying illness and treatment trends in the overall population.
However, the new ICD-10 set includes a number of unusual codes, some of which may make you laugh and some of which will have you shaking your head in bewilderment. Many involve being attacked by animals or becoming injured in an unusual location. Here are the 20 most strange ICD-10 codes we’ve run across to date.
Top 20 Most Strange ICD-10 Codes We’ve Run Across
1. W220.2XD: Walked into lamppost, subsequent encounter
2. W61.33: Pecked by a chicken
3. W61.62XD: Struck by duck, subsequent encounter
4. W55.41XA: Bitten by pig, initial encounter
5. W59.22XA: Struck By turtle
6. R46.1: Bizarre personal appearance
7. Z63.1: Problems in relationship with in-laws
8. V97.33XD: Sucked into a jet engine, subsequent encounter
9. R15.2: Fecal urgency
10.Y92.253: Opera house as the place of occurrence of the external cause
11.V9135XA: Hit or struck by a falling object due to an accident in a canoe or kayak
12. X52: Prolonged stay in a weightless environment
13.V94810: Civilian watercraft involved in water transport accident with military watercraft
14.Y92241: Hurt at the library
15. Y92.146: Swimming pool of prison as the place of occurrence of the external cause
16. Y93.D1: Stabbed while crocheting
17. S10.87XA: Other superficial bites of other specified part of the neck, initial encounter
18. Y93.D: V91.07XD: Burn due to water-skis on fire, subsequent encounter
19. V00.01XD: Pedestrian on foot injured in collision with roller-skater, subsequent encounter
20. W22.02XD: V95.43XS: Spacecraft collision injuring occupant, sequela
Unusual ICD-10 codes may make you laugh or just leave you puzzled, but they are all important tools in improving how we deliver health care to patients in the United States. ICD codes have been used since the 1970s and periodic revisions are guaranteed to happen with the goal of improving patient care and reducing costs. Today with ICD-11 codes adopted on January 1, 2022, we can expect more rare, unique, and just plain strange codes.
If your staff is having problems working with the new codes, let them learn more with some additional training, and give them access to EHR software that includes a feature to suggest the appropriate ICD-10 code based on the ICD-9 code the employee used to enter.
Key Takeaway
- Since the mandated switchover to ICD-10 from version 9 of the International Classification of Diseases code, a number of strange codes have come to light.
- The most unusual ICD-10 codes do have a logical reason for being included, but they can still make you pause for a second to wonder who came up with some of the funnier items.
- Be prepared to enter very specific codes about patient encounters with animals, such as pigs, ducks, and turtles, especially if your practice is in a more rural area.
- It’s best to use the latest version of your EHR software with the latest ICD-10 codes as well as tips for helping your team transition from using the ICD-9 codes.
- Practice makes perfect. Allocate additional resources for staff training so they can practice using the new code set.
Staying abreast of ICD-10 coding changes will help you run more smoothly. Subscribe to our blog today so you can stay informed.
