1. ICD-10 to Replace ICD-9
Medical Coding in 2014
By Melissa Zachariasz

2. Introduction

Melissa Zachariasz, founder of
MedPro Billing, offers services to
health care facilities and physicians in
the areas of medical billing and
collections. With over two decades of
experience in medical coding and
billing, Melissa Zachariasz possesses
a thorough understanding of coding
and billing systems.

3. About Medical Coding

Medical coding involves assigning the
proper industry-standard codes to
medical treatments and procedures in
doctor’s offices and in-patient and
outpatient facilities. As the first step of
preparing billing statements for
patients and insurance companies,
medical coding paperwork is
standardized to associate proper costs
to health care and streamline the
payment process.

4. Conclusion

Professionals in the medical billing industry
will encounter significant changes in 2014
due to new regulations imposed by Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPPA) legislation. Across the United States,
professional medical coders are learning the
new coding system ICD-10, which will
replace ICD-9 on October 1, 2014. During the
transition period to this new coding system,
medical coders and billers will continue to
use ICD-9 as hospitals and clinics prepare for
the new system of coding.
For more information on the transition
between ICD-9 and ICD-10, visit
www.aapc.com.