2015 ICD-10 Coding Books

Hello. I am new to this wonderful website, as well as to the coding industry. Actually, I'm still taking online classes through AHIMA and am asking for some clarification.

I previously used the 2014 Optum ICD-9-CM Professional for Hospitals Vol 1-3 coding book and am now looking to replace it with all of the 2015 CURRENT versions (as of 9-2014).

Can anyone explain to me the difference between the Professional and the Expert version of the ICD-10-CM, and the Hospital vs the Physician versions as well.

Also, the PCS book is ONLY Expert. What does that mean?

The 2014 book was my first coding book ever, so I don't know if I should order another Optum book, or try the AMA book . . . or is there an even BETTER version I should be using??

Can ANYONE please help me?

Thank you very much, and Happy Holidays to ALL!

Terri

re: 2015 ICD-10 Coding Books

Hi Terri, and welcome to the coding world:) in response to your questons the ICD-9 for hospitals volumes 1-3 includes codes for inpatient and outpatient diagnoses and unless you are doing inpatient coding it is a waste of monies as it does cost more than the ICD-9 CM expert for physicians volumes 1&2, this is just for outpatient codes. As for what company to order than from it really all depends on pricing. I usually order my books through AAPC as i am a CPC and get a discount being a member. I would just shop around and do some pricing for alll the different companys offering coding books. I do know that you can also get these books off of Amazon, the only difference I have seen in some of the books are the illustrations as I have a AMA CPT® book and it does not offer many colored illustrations but it is cheaper if all you want is a book to look up codes. Hope this was helpful and good luck in your coding career:)

re: 2015 ICD-10 Coding Books

UPDATE to my additional information/questions below:

Being impatient, I called Optum. The Hospital and the Physician books have the identical coding, it's just the icons and coloring, etc that are different - each geared towards its specialty.

Being happy with my previous Optum purchase, I decided to order my 2015 versions from them.

Before doing more research (very unlike me), I "impatiently" ordered the AMA books off of Amazon yesterday and they will be here tomorrow. I just got off the phone with Amazon who graciously created a return label for me in the chance that I decide to return them. To my surprise, postage and tracking are paid for . . . and the box CAN be opened (unlike many other companies).

I feel MUCH better having spoken to someone, and I thank you for your input into my dilemma and for welcoming me to the coding "family".

PS: I decided that I am going to look at the AMA books just to see what they are like and to know for sure that I am making the right decision as to which ones I keep. Who knows . . . I may like AMA better than Optum, but either way - once I make my decision, one set will be returned.

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Thank you very much for the welcome! I know I have an interesting road (and probably very difficult one, as far as getting a job with no medical experience except candystriping in the 1980s - LOL) ahead of me.

I understand about the difference between the ICD-9 and ICD-10 books as far as 9 had EVERYTHING in one book (Vol 1-3), and 10 has been separated into two books - CM (diagnosis) and PCS (Procedure).

I used the Optum 2014 ICD-9 book that I mentioned previously for Part 1 of my class, and now in Part 2 I'm supposed to be focusing mostly on ICD-10.

Since I'm currently learning and am not using it professionally, I need BOTH (CM and PCS) ICD-10 books.

I went on Optum's site (because I have a discount code) and saw that they have different versions of ICD-10-CM - Hospital and Physician - as well as - Professional and Expert.

One question was: what is the difference (and why do they have it) between those books. Are there different diagnosis codes for Hospitals and Physicians????

I just found out (through Amazon) that the CM Expert is the spiral version. That is the only difference.

In my research I also found the following books on Amazon (both by AMA):
> ICD-10-PCS, 2015: The Complete Official Draft Codebook
> ICD-10-CM 2015: The Complete Official Codebook

and was wondering if these were "better" than Optum's versions. Also, why doesn't AMA have any distinction between Hospital and Physician for CM.

AHIMA is suggesting we get THEIR 2014 version (by Anne B Castro) of CM and PCS, but with all of the mistakes I find in their courses and textbooks, I have decided to get the NEWEST and BEST versions . . . hence me looking to find the proper 2015 books.

Sorry if my questions were not clear. I hope the verbiage I used above will help you understand better what I'm trying to find out. I'm already signed up for my Part 2 class and want to start as soon as possible, but I also want to make sure that I get the correct and most-current 2015 books.

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The other question I forgot to post was: Are ALL of these 2015 books in "DRAFT" mode. And if so . . . are they still considered "final" until a new book comes out at the end of this year?

Again . . . Thank you for any and ALL help and information you can give me.

PS: I have emailed Optum to see if I can get an answer from them regarding the differences, but am awaiting a response. A phone call might be in order. =;-)