Not much. But you can make the most of the delay and
fortify your ICD-10 preparedness with the following checklist.
The Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that changed the
new ICD-10 implementation date from October 1, 2013 to October 1. 2014.
According to the final rule, the delay will boost the preparedness of the
industry and therefore prevent a disruption in health care claim payments.
But despite the respite, getting a hang of all the new
codes that your practice will have to submit will be extremely burdensome (ICD-10 codes list ) will increase five-fold
(68,000) from the current ICD-9 list of 13,000
codes!). For instance, in ICD-9codes 2012, there are just two codes for a fractured kneecap whereas under
ICD-10, the number of codes for the same will augment to 480 codes.
But nevertheless you can make the most of the one-year
delay and strengthen your ICD-10 preparedness with adequate planning. Here are
some steps you can take to ensure a smooth transition for your practice:
Educate yourself
and your staff about ICD-10
- · Form a steering committee to oversee the ICD-10 switch
- · Train your staff on changes in documentation requirements
Carry out an
impact assessment
- · Assess current uses of ICD-9 codes in order to determine aspects of workflow that the new system will potentially change
- · Make a list of staff members who require ICD-10 training as well as resources
Chalk out a
realistic and all-inclusive budget
- · Make an estimation that covers costs such as software, staff training, hardware, etc
Contact your
organization’s external partners
- · Get in touch with your vendors, billing services and clearing houses to check their preparedness and assess existing contacts
- · Enquire your vendors how they’ll support you in the big switch
Gear up for
testing
- · Ask your vendor for a testing plan
- · Carry out internal testing within your clinical practice as well as external testing with payers and other external business partners
