Why has the U.S. decided to move from ICD-9 to ICD-10?

Key issues in adopting ICD-10- CM are:
• ICD-9 is 30 years old and is outdated.
• ICD-9 is running out of spaces for new codes. Codes added in recent years are in the wrong chapters because the correct chapters were full, with nowhere to add new codes.
• ICD-9 codes cannot reflect current and evolving medical technologies.
• The current codes are limited in their descriptions. New codes will allow for a greater level of detail, including etiology, manifestation, and laterality.
• ICD-9 does not provide the increased level of detail needed for emerging needs like biosurveillance and competitive purchasing. […]

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What is ICD-10?

The 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases consists of:
• a tabular list containing cause of death titles and codes
• inclusion and exclusion terms for cause of death titles
• an alphabetical index to diseases and nature of injury, external causes of injury, table of drugs, and chemicals
• descriptions, guidelines, and coding rules

ICD-10 has two components:

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