Bit by a squirrel? There’s now a code for that

Story highlights Starting today, doctor's offices worldwide will begin using new, updated medical codes The new codes are much more specific than the old ones Doctors, hospitals have been training staff, buying new computer programs The codes will be revised again in 2017 CNN — If you get hurt in a close encounter with a sea lion, injured at the library or burned when your water skis catch on fire for the second time, you are now in luck. But this is real, and I don’t know if everyone really is ready for it.” As an orthopedic surgeon, Marks works in a part of the medical profession that will see the most code changes, and he’s been traveling the country trying to help other doctors get ready for the shift in the way they will do business. “This will help doctors’ better target treatment to individual consumers,” said Clare Krusing with the American Health Insurance Plans, a trade association for the insurance industry. Meaning doctors get a little bit of time to get used to the new system, but they’ll have to correct and resubmit the right ones.