The CDC released ICD-10 code changes that go into effect April 1, 2023. All of the code changes are related to improving the capture of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) information.
There are 42 code changes aimed at improved specificity when documenting SDOH conditions, including classifications of:
- Financial abuse
- Maltreatment and neglect
- Problems specifically related to health literacy
- Unavailability of basic services impacting a patient’s physical environment
- Housing inadequacies
- History of abuse
- Noncompliance with medication regimen
- Noncompliance with renal dialysis
The CDC clarified when SDOH codes should be captured and how to document the codes in the patient’s medical record. Here’s just one example:
- A patient who lives alone may suffer an acute injury that temporarily impacts her ability to perform routine activities of daily living. This would support assignment of code Z60.2 (problems related to living alone). However, merely living alone, without documentation of a risk or unmet need for assistance at home, would not support the code assignment.
SDOH codes remain in the list of exceptions that allow documentation by clinicians other than the patient’s provider, which ensures that the codes can be captured at any point in the care continuum.
Is your plan ready to implement these ICD-10 changes? Do you have an understanding of how the changes may be leveraged to support initiatives across the organization?
Contact ATTAC Consulting Group and our experts will assist your plan with monitoring coding changes, current-state assessment, developing and deploying implementation plans, and testing.
