What about ICD?

[ekh_78]

Lately we have had this discussion about DSM-V and the fact that Asperger probably won’t be a diagnose in it. Yeah, DSM is big, it’s used all over the world, I just thought it could be mentioned that the diagnose Asperger also is in ICD (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems) by WHO. So unless WHO follows

Comments

[mcharvat]

The ICD code books are revised every year and approved by the AMA. A sub-specialty cannot revise a diagnosis book without the approval from the AMA. The ICD-9 books are revised based on what the AMA determines necessary; each year, there are large numbers of codes that are added, revised and deleted - all different and unique sub-specialty codes. AS is not unique in this sense as there are other diagnosis codes that are revised in the same manner. Any way you look at it, AS is still Autism. AS is still on the spectrum and that will not disappear.

Insurance companies are also forced to revise their own internal processing policies when the new code books are issued. Since there is little regulation as to what an insurance policy must cover or must decline this issue seems to be up for debate as to whether insurance companies will cover AS if it is billed with the new code. Coverage policies vary from insurance company to insurance company, so stating that one company will not cover autism but will cover AS is not universal. Also, there may be new guidelines since the once separate codes are now to be billed under one code.

Albeit, insurance coverage policies are random and varied I do hope they take code changes into serious thought. Most insurance policies still consider pregnancy a "sickness". Until more claims are billed and processed, we may not yet know the reaction.