Nutrition Diagnoses Using ICD-10

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When using different nutrition diagnoses it is important to use the diagnoses correctly and translated correctly. The codes that are used are called International Classification of Diseases or ICD codes. The codes were developed by the WHO for standard classification of diseases, injuries and causes of death. Use of codes are often used by many in common language to communicate to the public. In 2015 the codes will be updated so that everyone covered by HIPPA will be affected by the changes. There are often other codes that are used by RDN's such as CPT and HCPCS to code for outpatient services and medical nutrition therapy. The importance of using coding can help not only with the accuracy and specificity of the diagnosis but can help with billing and quicker reimbursement. It is understood that many RDN's are not able to bill for reimbursement but advancing knowledge of codes and billing can make these things possible. The new changes to the ICD's there are also going to be improvements with epidemiological research; there will be four new codes for research in nutrition. The codes will help with improving disease prevalence and can be monitored much closer. The codes can be used for malnutrition, deficiency, overweight, obesity and body mass. The RDN is responsible for coding when working clinically when documenting on patients. It is very important that when the codes change that RDN's in differently levels of care are taught how to code. The CMN can find the codes for changes on the CMS website www.cms.gov/ICD-10. I hope that this update is important to CNM's in the future to improve billing for RDN's!

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Alphabet Soup: Nutrition Diagnoses Using ICD-10. (2014). Future Dimensions in Clinical Nutrition Practice: 8-12.

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