Since 13,000 ways to be sick, injured, or mortally wounded were not enough, we now have about 70,000 ways. 

This includes codes for “parrot bites” and “sucked into a jet engine.” There is also V97.33XD – “sucked into jet engine, subsequent encounter;” what patient was sucked into a jet engine, survived, and then sucked in again? Best of all is V91.07XA, “burn due to water skis on fire.”  Not sure how often one is burned by water skis being on fire. 

Other funny ones include:

• W59.22XD, “struck by a turtle, subsequent encounter” (NOTE – this does not apply to bitten by turtle (W59.21), and as worded seems to not apply to the first encounter with the turtle);
• W6162XD, “struck by a duck”;
• Z63.1, “problems in relationship with in-laws” (who doesn’t?), and;
• W55.29XA, “other contact with cow” (what is “other contact”?). 

Lastly, try this one – R46.1, “Bizarre personal appearance.”  Any ideas?

(Come to think of it, subsequent encounter means subsequent encounter with physician – not the jet engine or turtle – but it makes for funny reading the way it was drafted.)

From a more practical and serious note, the ICD-10 transition will cause many issues for not only healthcare providers, but also patients.   Many experts are predicting issues with delayed payments, denials and more, all due to miscoding.  One large provider has publicly stated that the transition will cost them $30 million, not including the cost of delayed payments and recoding rejected items. Another provider of billing software has stated that they expect many practices to not have a single claim paid for some time due to transition issues. 

Hoping everyone has a smooth transition, but if not, maybe we all need to treat ourselves under F43.22:  “Adjustment disorder with anxiety.”