ICD-10-CM Update Highlights: More Detail = Better Accuracy
One of the biggest themes in recent ICD-10 updates is specificity — meaning codes now let you describe conditions in much greater detail. For example, there are new codes for different levels of obesity and lymphoma remission statuses, expanded categories for conditions like anal and rectal fistulas, and social determinants of health Z-codes that help capture non-medical factors affecting care. These changes may seem small, but they matter in billing accuracy and exam prep.
Exam strategy: Focus on understanding why additional characters and specificity matter — exams love to test sequencing and specificity logic, not just memorization.