Medical Diagnoses Code Updates
16 January 2012
Summary
ACC has reviewed the list of medical diagnosis codes it uses. As a result of this review, with effect from 26 February 2012 we will be moving to an updated code list. The updated diagnosis code list contains the following:
- A reduced list of Read Codes, removing non-injury codes such as those for medical supplies or family histories.
- The Preferred Term description format for Read Codes as well as the 60 character version where available. This will provide more consistency with many of the descriptions used in the Practice Management Systems.
- An update to ICD-10-AM 6th Edition. This aligns with the standard used by the Secondary Healthcare sector.
We will also apply treatment profiles to relevant ICD-10-AM codes. This means treatment profiles will work for ICD-10-AM coded claims in the same way as Read Coded claims.
Questions and Answers
Why are you making these changes?
It is important that ACC systems reflect the diagnoses codes that are used by our health sector, and that the chance of error is minimised by limiting the code list to injury (including treatment injury) related conditions.
Where is the updated code list?
A link to the new list will be published on ACC’s website in January 2012. The February edition of ACC News will also include the website address.
What do I need to do?
The new code list will be effective from 26 February 2012. After that date, the updated code list must be used. ACC will no longer be able to receive claims for diagnoses that are not on the list.
What codes have you removed?
Codes that are not for a diagnosis of injury have been removed. These are things like family histories, medical supplies and non-injury symptoms. ACC has reviewed claims that were lodged using these codes, and is satisfied that there is an appropriate alternative for any that have been used to indicate injury.
What about our Practice Management System (PMS), do they need to be updated?
You do not need to do anything, as there will be no change to your PMS. The change is being made to reflect what ACC is able to receive and how codes are mapped within ACC systems. This sits outside your PMS.
Why isn’t ACC moving to SNOMED CT?
Moving to SNOMED is a substantial change for providers and for ACC. We will make the move in conjunction with other organisations when we have enabled our systems and when we have the resources to assist Providers with the transition.
Our staff complete manual claims and don’t have access to a computerised code list. How do we know what to use?
ACC will provide an information sheet to map commonly used removed codes to an appropriate code from the updated list. If manual claims are received with removed codes, ACC will be unable to accept this code and will ask for it to be corrected.