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ICD-9 Coding Tools

Medical insurance coding can be complicated; if the incorrect code is used, a patient's insurance claim can be unnecessarily delayed or denied, resulting in a loss of revenue for the medical facility. Help is available to assign the proper International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision (ICD-9) code. ICD-9 codes are used to convey what the patient was seen for or diagnosed with; this shows the medical necessity of the visit or procedure to the third-party payer or insurance company.

  1. ICD-9 Coding Guidelines

    • The International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision (ICD-9) code book contains a "guidelines" section that should be read when orienting yourself with the ICD-9 codes. The book contains detailed information regarding coding; be sure to pay attention to code priority and coding diagnoses to the highest level of specificity.

    Handheld Code Lookup Device

    • Handheld devices that look up ICD-9 codes, such as BluefishRx, are great coding tools. These small devices allow you to search by keyword for the diagnosis and appropriate code. The BluefishRx contains over 250,000 keywords, making it quicker and easier to look up diagnosis and disease codes.

    On-line Code Lookup Tool

    • Code lookup tools are also available online; the Medical Billing and Coding website (medicalbillingandcoding.org) has a lookup system for ICD-9 codes. Visit the site and type in the code or a keyword; the code is instantly looked up for you. No membership is required to use the site or site tools.

    Professional Organizations

    • Coding organizations such as the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC) or American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) are another coding reference tool. Since these organizations offer training and certification for coders, they are great resources for coding questions, education and training.

    Insurance Companies

    • Insurance companies, or third-party payers, have specific guidelines for billing medical services and supplies. Contact the patient's insurance company to check on their specific coding guidelines, as each insurance company has different guidelines and procedures for submitting claims. Representatives are also available to answer any questions you may have.

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