ICD-10 Expert Responds to Delay: Use Extra Year to Prepare!
Earlier this week, HealthStream Training Partner and ICD-10 Expert Precyse issued a press release advising clients and prospects that the proposed HHS delay is an opportunity for healthcare organizations to further prepare for the coding transition.
Full text of the press release is below:
Precyse Advises Providers to Continue ICD-10 Preparations in Spite of CMS Delay
Delay provides opportunity to refocus, prepare, train and get it right.
April 9, 2012–Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen G. Sebelius today announced a proposed rule that would delay the compliance date for the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition diagnosis and procedure codes (ICD-10) from Oct. 1, 2013, to Oct. 1, 2014.
When HHS originally announced its intent to delay ICD-10 on Feb. 16, 2012, Precyse carefully reviewed the implications of the announcement and the need to advise its more than 1,000 clients who relied on its management, staffing and technology solutions and professional advice in health information management matters. Precyse advised its clients to stay the course and continue their ICD-10 preparations, and continues to advance that position.
"We're telling our current and prospective clients that now is not the time to procrastinate. This delay provides them the opportunity to refocus their efforts and get it right," said Chris Powell, president of Precyse. "Precyse believes this delay will allow providers the time they need to improve their clinical documentation processes and build a strong foundation for process improvement. In addition, the delay allows payers to prepare for the change and enables providers to focus on technology implementations and more thorough testing with their vendors."
Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) Program:
Precyse believes that now is an excellent time for providers to increase their clinical documentation training programs for physicians and other caregivers. Provider Action Item: Target high volume specialties in your organization that will be most impacted by ICD-10 and train those physician specialists in proper documentation while training the coding team on accurate coding; then, move to the next specialty for training.
Process Improvement Program:
The proposed delay also offers the provider an opportunity to assess the flow of their information across their organization and develop a plan to address gaps through process improvement and technology. Provider Action Item: Develop workflow platforms and applications that allow healthcare providers to do their jobs more efficiently and effectively.
Training and Development:
Take this time to not only invest in the training of coders but also intensify the training for those who will use the data. Provider Action Item: Perform side-by-side ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding analysis, assess the documentation and coding gaps of coders and other caregivers and target training based on these findings.
"Precyse is an innovation company that listens carefully to our clients and prospects; every day we challenge ourselves to come back to our clients with solutions that solve their business problems while improving patient care and outcomes," Powell continued. "We don't believe that an ICD-10 implementation delay changes our goals. We pledge to our clients and future prospects that we will never stop innovating and improving even in the midst of very challenging times."
Learn about HealthStream's ICD-10 Training Suite from Precyse.