ICD-10 Changes for October 2017
Physicians may think that the current codes in the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) that are already in effect are sufficient for their needs. However, with implementation of ICD-10 in the rearview mirror, there are now annual updates to the code set in October of each year. And although coders have a paper copy of the book, many physicians will only see the changes when the diagnosis code library gets updated in their electronic medical record on October 1, 2017.
The new ICD-10 library has 71,704 codes, which includes 360 additions, 142 deletions, and 226 revisions. Some of the revisions were minor, such as correcting spelling errors or changing plural words to singular ones.

But there are also new codes. There are changes to includes and excludes notes that provide clarification for correct coding. Includes notes appear after some codes to further define the condition or give examples or provide alternate terms. This year, some excludes1 notes were changed to excludes2 notes. (More about that at the end of this article.)
This year, there are new codes for Clostridium difficile infections and mast cell tumors. Substance abuse codes have an additional "in remission" code for each type of substance. And this version continues to define conditions with laterality and adds codes to describe more specificity for certain conditions. This article won't list all 360 additions but will highlight some of them.
Enterocolitis due to C difficile infection is now differentiated by whether the infection is recurrent or not specified as recurrent.
A04.71 | Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, recurrent |
A04.72 | Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, not specified as recurrent |
There are more specific codes for mast cell neoplasms in the neoplasm chapter.
New codes for malignant mast cell | |
---|---|
C96.20 | Malignant mast cell neoplasm, unspecified |
C96.21 | Aggressive systemic mastocytosis |
C96.22 | Mast cell sarcoma |
C96.29 | Other malignant mast cell neoplasm |
Mast cell neoplasms of uncertain behavior have new codes | |
D47.01 | Cutaneous mastocytosis |
D47.02 | Systemic mastocytosis |
D47.09 | Other mast cell neoplasms of uncertain behavior |
There are two additional codes in category E11, type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes with ketoacidosis | |
---|---|
E11.10 | Type 2 diabetes with ketoacidosis without coma |
E11.11 | Type 2 diabetes with ketoacidosis without coma |
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Cite this: Betsy Nicoletti. New Coding Changes Starting Right Now! - Medscape - Sep 28, 2017.
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