03 April 2020
David Lawson
[FYI request #12426 email]
Tēnā koe David
Your Official Information Act request, reference: GOV-004163
Thank you for your email of 10 March 2020, asking for the fol owing information under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act):
I respectfully request in line with the Official Information Act 1982, the provision of an excel
searchable spreadsheet containing all snowmed diagnostic codes.
In the event that ACC are using a system not supported by excel to search for snomed codes
within ACC, please supply a copy of the exact working searchable spreadsheet that ACC uses
containing all snowmed diagnostic codes.
ACC is transitioning to SNOMED
The New Zealand health and disability sector, including ACC, is transitioning to SNOMED Clinical Terms
(SNOMED CT). Please note that the Ministry of Health is responsible for the administration of SNOMED
CT in New Zealand. More information on this is available on Ministry’s website at this
link.
ACC is able to accept claims that have been lodged using a SNOMED CT. The treatment provider who
has lodged the claim selects the appropriate SNOMED CT, rather than ACC. We will then make a decision
based on the available medical information, rather than on what SNOMED CT has been selected.
ACC does not hold al SNOMED CTs in any of our systems or in any form. There are nearly 350,000 of
these codes, and these are owned and distributed by SNOMED International. We are therefore declining
your request under section 18(g)(i) and (i ) of the Act. Having said this, I can advise that you can access
some SNOMED CT diagnosis information from:
• ACC’s website - you can download the SNOMED to Read Code translation table from thi
s page of
our website. This table comprises of over 12,000 SNOMED CTs and the closest matching Read
Code equivalent.
• SNOMED International’s website has a browser, at thi
s link, where you can search for SNOMED
CTs.
Queries about our response
If you have any questions, you can email me a
t [email address].
GOV-004163
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a complaint to the Ombudsman.
Information about how to do this is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800
802 602.
Nāku iti noa, nā
Sasha Wood
Manager Official Information Act Services
Government Engagement & Support
Accident Compensation Corporation
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