new 5 digit skin cancer coding

Is the new 5 digit more specific skin cancer coding such as 173.01 for basal cell of lip and 173.02 for squamous cell of lip----is that mandatory NOW as of Oct 1 or in Jan 2012? Seems like I would have known if it were mandtory now. My employer/ Doctor went to a Derm meeting and was told they had to use them right away ....immediately.

re: new 5 digit skin cancer coding

It is a new ICD code effective 10-01-2011; thus you need to use it right away and not wait for January. January is the effective date for CPT® updates......