The International Classification of Diseases Clinical Modification, 9th Revision (ICD-9 CM) is a list of codes intended for the classification of diseases and a wide variety of signs, symptoms, abnormal findings, complaints, social circumstances, and external causes of injury or disease.
1979One year later, WHO advised a series of ICD-9 specifications. Several years later in 1975, ICD-9 was published with its implementation becoming formalized in 1979. During this time, the number of diagnosis codes was expanded upon and the development of a procedural coding system made official headway.
CMS will continue to maintain the ICD-9 code website with the posted files. These are the codes providers (physicians, hospitals, etc.) and suppliers must use when submitting claims to Medicare for payment.
ICD-9 uses mostly numeric codes with only occasional E and V alphanumeric codes. Plus, only three-, four- and five-digit codes are valid. ICD-10 uses entirely alphanumeric codes and has valid codes of up to seven digits.
Smallpox is a disease caused by the Variola major virus. Some experts say that over the centuries it has killed more people than all other infectious diseases combined. Worldwide immunization stopped the spread of smallpox three decades ago. The last case was reported in 1977. Two research labs still keep small amounts of the virus. Experts fear bioterrorists could use the virus to spread disease.
The GEMs are the raw material from which providers, health information vendors and payers can derive specific applied mappings to meet their needs.