"What is the ICD-10 code for...?" - Search Smarter With Find-A-Code Tools

by  Aimee L. Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT
Mar 24th, 2020

Do you still find yourself searching the internet for an ICD-10 code? Medical coders often type, "what is the ICD-10 code for...," along with a specific diagnosis, into their search engine to avoid repeatedly dragging out the cumbersome ICD-10 codebook. Ironically, some of the most commonly searched ICD-10 diagnoses include: 

• abdominal pain ICD-10
• anemia ICD-10
• anxiety ICD-10
• COPD ICD-10
• depression ICD-10
• ICD-10 code for abdominal pain
• ICD-10 code for anxiety
• ICD-10 code for depression
• ICD-10 code for GERD
• ICD-10 code for hyperlipidemia

Even with the invention of encoding programs, the code search often begins with a search engine. Why are coders not using the tools they have available in their encoder? Coders will often search using these terms to locate a starting point code they can quickly enter into the encoder to get to the actual code more quickly than the encoder search tools are able to. It is important to note, however, that for the sake of time, pressure, and their given workload a coder may choose to rely on the internet code search result as the correct code for the claim. This method of code search is often incorrect and comes with a serious risk of inaccuracy and potential fraud as these results are often for "unspecified" codes or for the ICD-10 code result most often found and clicked on rather than the ICD-10 code that actually reflects the patient's documentation.

We all know time is money and the faster we can code a claim and kick it to the payer the more likely we are to impress our boss, get that promotion, or simply keep our job - but at what risk? 

With multiple, amazing search tools, Find-A-Code makes it easy to search once and locate the correct code that matches the documentation every time: 

• Find-A-Code (keyword search): Just like the type of internet search discussed above, simply type in a keyword and options will immediately be available to search. Check your past searches, view the page index or web links by letter of the alphabet, or see a list of the personal links you have added with your subscription. 
• Click-A-Dex (Index search): If you prefer searching the Alphabetic Index this is your search tool. Type in a keyword and quickly locate relevant subterms and codes.
• Browse-A-Code (drill-down): This is just like searching through the Tabular List. Simply select an ICD-10 chapter and drill down through the category and subcategory to the desired code. Click on the code link and you have arrived.  
• Build-A-Code (code builder): Similar to searching the Tabular List, Build-A-Code allows you to begin your search with a chapter, then category and subcategory until you get the exact code you want. You can also collect these codes to refer back to them later. 
• Map-A-Code (crosswalks): This search tool allows you to crosswalk from ICD-10 to HCC codes, ICD-9 to ICD-10 GEMS, and many other search options for other code sets like CPT© or HCPCS to RVU/Fees, BETOS, or CCS. It also allows you to look for the top CPT codes, denial percentages, and average charges, as well as inpatient-only codes. Additionally, each year you can simply copy and paste a list of your commonly reported codes into the "Code to Status" check and it will tell you the codeset, code, description, whether or not it is inactive or deleted, and the date of the last code status change.
• List-A-Code (custom lists): This tool allows you to quickly enter a list of codes (e.g., ICD-10, CPT, HCPCS, APC) and create a custom list by setting search criteria for the list you want to make. Whether you want to see all codes with pain in the description or want to copy and paste in a long list of diagnoses from a claim form you just want to compare to the patient documentation, this tool will easily create the customized list you need. 

Every code in Find-A-Code is hyperlinked to its own content page, which means wherever you are in your search process you can see the code page with all of the details about that code by simply clicking on it. Additionally, each search includes a book view (a little red book at the top that, when you click on it, opens to show you all of the codes surrounding the one you are currently looking at), which ensures you have the correct code. Not sure if a better one exists nearby? Simply scroll up or down within the book view to see the codes nearby. 

Take the time to perform a code search correctly and do it without breaking the bank. Subscriptions to Find-A-Code are very reasonably priced and the amount of information and money saved in time and resources by using Find-A-Code more than pays for the service each month. If you are interested in a FREE DEMO and pricing, please contact us today. Part of a large group? Contact us to discuss a large group discount option. 

Already a Find-A-Code subscriber? Then hopefully these great search options are something you will check out today. Also, with the new website layout you can now bookmark the tools and pages you love most for quicker access.

Need help setting them up? Please contact one of our Customer Success Managers for assistance at support@findacode.com or by phone at (801) 770-4203 (9-5 Mountain). You can simply go to findacode.com and click on LIVE CHAT for online support or PRICING for details about our subscription plans. 

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About Aimee L. Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT

Aimee L. Wilcox is a medical coding, billing, and auditing consultant, author, and educator with more than 30 years of clinical and administrative experience in healthcare, coding, billing, and auditing. Medicine, including coding and billing, is a constantly changing field full of challenges and learning and she loves both. Aimee believes there are talented medical professionals who, with proper training and excellent information, can continue to practice the art of healing while feeling secure in their billing and reimbursement for such care.