ICD-10, It is closer than it seems

What is ICD-10?

ICD-10-CM is the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition, and Clinical Modification that will be in use in all U.S. health care settings after the set implementation date. The transition to ICD-10 is occurring because ICD-9 produces limited data about patients' medical conditions and hospital inpatient procedures. ICD-9 is 30 years old, has outdated terms, and is inconsistent with current medical practice.

Moving Forward

ICD-10 is the next transition that comes after Version 5010, and it provides the opportunity to accommodate new procedures and new diagnoses unaccounted for in the current ICD-9 code set. Although the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed a delay to push the compliance date from the Oct. 1, 2013 to Oct. 1, 2014, now is the time to start your implementation process.

Key Factors to Consider

There are many important factors to consider when opting to begin, or delay, your ICD-10 implementation project. ICD-10 is not just about coding or information technology; it will affect all aspects of an organization including scheduling, registration, admission, clinical documentation, charging, ordering, claims processing, payment, reimbursement, denials, appeals, reporting and so on. ICD-10 will have a huge impact on clinical documentation and the ability to get claims reimbursed in a timely fashion. Begin with the transition now to avoid billing backlogs, cash flow delays, increased claims rejections and denials.

The Time To Start Implementation Is Now!

CMS Implementation Guide

CMS has developed implementation handbooks and templates to assist with the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 codes. Each guide, listed below, provides detailed information for planning and executing the ICD-10 transition.  They are great source references whether you're in the midst of the transition or just beginning.

• Large Practices [PDF]
  . Templates
• Small/Medium Provider Practices [PDF]
  . Templates

For the latest news on ICD-10 please visit the CMS website at:

http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/ProviderResources.html