The transition is occurring because ICD-9 codes have limited data about patients' medical conditions and hospital inpatient procedures. ICD-9 is 30 years old, has outdated and obsolete terms, and is inconsistent with current medical practice.

 

Also, the structure of ICD-9 limits the number of new codes that can be created, and many ICD-9 categories are full.

A successful transition to ICD-10 will be vital to transforming our nation's health care system.

 

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, www.cms.gov, February 2014.