Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) is a 5 digit numeric medical code set that is used

to report medical, surgical, diagnostic procedures and services to entities such as physicians,
health insurance companies and accreditation organizations.1 The International Classification of
Disease, ninth revision (ICD-9) is the official system of assigning codes to diagnoses and
procedures associated with hospital utilization in the United States.2 The relationship between an
ICD-9 code and a CPT code is that diagnosis (ICD-9) supports the medical necessity of the
procedure (CPT).1 In doing so the insurance can detect a correct charge from the wrong one, and
reject the wrong charge if necessary. It is an easier and faster way of double checking that the
patient is paying for the services received, as well as make sure the health care provider is
operating efficiently and in compliance with regulations. The diagnosis codes are updated
annually with the changes going into effect on October 1 of each year. Such revision occurred
October 1st of 2015 where there was a transition to ICD-10.3 The content of ICD-10 is similar to
ICD-9, however there are 5 main areas that are different:
1. ICD-10 has alphanumeric categories rather than numeric.
2. Some ICD-10s chapters have been rearranged, some titles have been changed, and
conditions have been regrouped.
3. ICD-10 doubled the number of categories versus ICD-9.
4. ICD-10 is printed in a three-volume set (compared to a two-volume set of ICD-9).
5. Some changes have been made in the coding rules for mortality.

The idea to transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 is to enhance the quality of data for tracking
public health conditions with complications and anatomical location, improve data for
epidemiological research, measure outcomes and care provided to patients, make clinical
decisions, identify fraud and abuse, and design payment systems claims.
References:
1. Lenards N. Operational Issues in Radiation Oncology: Billing and Coding. [SoftChalk].
LaCrosse, WI: UW-L Medical Dosimetry Program; 2011.
2. International Classifications of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention Web site. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd9.htm Updated September
1, 2009. Accessed November 22, 2015.
3. International Classifications of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention Web site. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd10.htm Updated
November 30, 2011. Accessed November 22, 2015.