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Article: ICD-10 coding was introduced in South Africa in June 2005. This system is now law and it is illegal not to code a diagnosis.(International classification of diseases 10th edition (ICD-10))
- Article from:
- CME: Your SA Journal of CPD
- Article date:
- January 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 South African Medical Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The ICD-10 coding is now a necessary part of a patient's record and is vital for receiving payment from medical aids. There are a few rules which, if applied correctly, greatly simplify the process of selecting the correct code. The importance of this must not be underestimated. At the time of writing, if a code is 'valid', then payment will follow. However, imminent new checks will ensure that the code matches the medications prescribed and the procedures done, for each line item. If the code is deemed inappropriate, that is the medical aid decides that the treatment is not appropriate to the disease or condition, then there will be no payment.
Many of the ...