The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a reminder about how healthcare providers should use qualifiers for ICD-10 diagnosis codes submitted on electronic claims.
CMS notes that when you submit electronic claims for services, remember the following:
- Claims with ICD-10 diagnosis codes must use ICD-10 qualifiers; all claims for services on or after October 1, 2015, must use ICD-10.
- Claims with ICD-9 diagnosis codes must use ICD-9 qualifiers; only claims for services before October 1, 2015, can use ICD-9.
Use ICD-10 qualifiers as follows:
- For ASC X12 837P 5010A1 claims, the HI01-1 field for the Code List Qualifier Code must contain the code “ABK” to indicate the principal ICD-10 diagnosis code being sent. When sending more than one diagnosis code, use the qualifier code “ABF” for the Code List Qualifier Code to indicate up to 11 additional ICD-10 diagnosis codes that are sent.
- For ASC X12 837I 5010A1 claims, the HI01-1 field for the Principal Diagnosis Code List Qualifier Code must contain the code “ABK” to indicate the principal ICD-10 diagnosis code being sent. When sending more than one diagnosis code, use the qualifier code “ABF” for each Other Diagnosis Code to indicate up to 24 additional ICD-10 diagnosis codes that are sent.
- For NCPDP D.0 claims, in the 492.WE field for the Diagnosis Code Qualifier, use the code “02” to indicate an ICD-10 diagnosis code is being sent.
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