ICD-10 is Coming – Are you on track and ready?
By Lee Ann Bryant, Associate Product Manager, HealthStream
Although nearly all healthcare providers are aware of the October 1, 2014 deadline, studies show that most are unprepared for this transition. Recognizing that these changes require widespread education and planning initiatives beyond just the coding population, CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) provides a timeline for preparation between now and the “go-live” date of October 1, 2014.
Transition and Testing (March 2013 to September 2014 )
- March 1, 2013 – December 31, 2013: Conduct high-level training on ICD-10 for clinicians and coders to prepare for testing…e.g., clinical documentation, software updates (ongoing)
- April 1, 2013: Start testing ICD-10 codes and systems with your practice’s coding, billing, and clinical staff (9 months)
- Use ICD-10 codes for diagnoses your practice sees most often
- Test data and reports for accuracy
- Monitor vendor an
d payer preparedness, identify and address gaps (ongoing)
- October 1, 2013: Begin testing claims and other transactions using ICD-10 codes with business trading partners such as payers, clearinghouses, and billing services (10 months minimum)
- January 1, 2014 – April 1, 2014: Review coder and clinician preparation; begin detailed ICD-10 coding training (6-9 months)
- Work with vendors to complete transition to production-ready ICD-10 systems
Complete Transition/Full Compliance (October 1, 2014)
- Complete ICD-10 transition for full compliance
- ICD-9 codes continue to be used for services provided before October 1, 2014
- ICD-10 codes required for services provided on or after October 1, 2014
- Monitor systems and correct errors if needed
While this timeline is a good high-level guide for what your organization should be focusing on now, it does not provide guidance on the day-to-day task of educating all necessary staff for this transition. With more than 50 affected populations in a healthcare facility, the ICD-10 transition is a great one and shouldn’t be taken lightly. ICD-10 is coming – are you ready?
For more information on how to get your organization and staff on track and ready to succeed from day one, click here!