ICD 9 codes, which were published in 1977, are widely used in the health care industry today. Therefore, the classifications in ICD-9 are at this point fairly old and inadequate to keep pace with the changes that have taken place in this sector. Some feel that ICD 9 codes need to be replaced badly and that the terminology and classification of some conditions are obsolete.

Therefore, ICD-10 codes are well on course to become the new required standard replacing the existing ICD-9 codes. Although healthcare organizations will still keep their records in ICD-9, they will need to address the challenge of accessing this data for the future. But the good news is that technological developments are well on course that will help carry out automated mappings from ICD-9 to the appropriate codes in ICD-10, thereby aiding in the conversion process.

CMS will also help you make the transition from the current ICD-9 to ICD-10 code set as its general equivalence mappings offer a backward and forward tool to help you convert diagnosis codes. However, you'll need to keep in mind that in some instances you won't get a direct match between the code sets. One ICD-9 code may lead you to various options on new code sets.

The ICD-10 coding system is more complex than ICD 9 but it'll allow for greater level of clinical detail and will help you to keep pace with the advances in technology better. The new codes will have better data for evaluating and improving quality of care and will allow health officials to track and respond to global health threats better. The best thing that the new code set is likely to bring is reduction in fraud.