Abstract
With the changeover from ICD-9 to ICD-10 codes has come a tremendous expansion in the number of diagnosis codes, from 14,025 to 69,823,1 covering an amazing number of conditions. One newspaper story I read pointed out that there are codes for being bitten by an alligator and for being sucked into a jet engine. I investigated further,2 and found out that there are actually 12 separate codes for encounters with an alligator (table 1). It is surprising that there are not separate codes for alligator-related injuries to the left vs the right side of the body, given the ICD-10 penchant for identifying laterality whenever possible (and even when it is not possible—there are separate codes for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage from the “left anterior communicating artery,” I60.22, from the “right anterior communicating artery,” I60.21, and from an “unspecified anterior communicating artery,” I60.20). “Alligators All Around.” Words and music by Carole King and Maurice Sendak. Copyright © 1975 Colgems-EMI Music Inc. and Elorac Music, Inc. Copyright renewed. All rights administered by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, 424 Church Street, Suite 1200, Nashville, TN 37219. International copyright secured, all rights reserved. Reprinted by permission of the Hal Leonard Corporation.
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