Medical Billing Codes For Injury Via Turtle Among Thousands Created by New Law

A new government law has created an unusually precise list of injury codes for billing purposes. Currently there are 18,000 standard billing codes; the new law would expand that list to around 140,000. If you've been injured at the Opera, walked into a lamppost, pulled something while playing a trumpet, or have been attacked by a turtle, there's now a code for that. From the article: "The federal agencies that developed the system—generally known as ICD-10, for International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision—say the codes will provide a more exact and up-to-date accounting of diagnoses and hospital inpatient procedures, which could improve payment strategies and care guidelines. "It's for accuracy of data and quality of care," says Pat Brooks, senior technical adviser at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services."

Comments

Some turtle attack advice

[elrous0]

The obvious temptation is to run, but that would be a mistake. NEVER show a turtle your fear.

Re:Some turtle attack advice

[Duradin]

Do not poke snapping turtle with remaining fingers.

This isn't really interesting

[mat catastrophe]

ICD-9 had codes for masturbation.

Go ahead and think about why I might know that. Scar yourselves.

Re:What is the code for burns via shark?

[blueg3]

W5649XA
W902XXA

Re:Good for insurance

[SleazyRidr]

This isn't Twitter, there's plenty of room to post the full URL here. Unless you're just trying to hide a Goatse link...

Re:Make it simple

[kenj0418]

You CAN be severely injured by a lightning strike from a clear sky.

Hmm, let me check my list:
S444.11 Smote - Fire, Pillar from sky
S444.12 Smote - Fire, Spontaneous Combustion
S444.2 Smote - Salt, Transformation into pillar
S444.3 Smote - Lightning

Ahh, there it is.