Barring any official changes, the implementation of the new ICD-10 coding system is less than a year away, scheduled to take effect October 1, 2014. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) offers the following suggestions:
If you are a provider, payer, or other health care entity, you should prepare for your ICD-10 transition now. A large part of that preparation includes having conversations and building collaborations with your trading partners and vendors, as well as with your peers and professional associations. By communicating and working together, CMS hopes to move toward a successful transition to ICD-10 that will improve the detail of data captured through coding and facilitate patient care coordination across clinical settings—a goal that is shared by many other CMS eHealth initiatives.
In this final year of the ICD-10 transition, CMS is developing additional resources and increasing outreach to providers, payers, and vendors to help ensure industry readiness by October 1, 2014.
Based on feedback from medical and trade associations and other stakeholders, CMS has developed a variety of ICD-10 resources for Providers, Payers, and Vendors. These resources cover topics ranging from a basic introduction to ICD-10 to Continuing Medical Education/Continuing Education courses with a roadmap and guide for small practices. For a more in-depth explanation of how to guide a practice, hospital, or payer organization through the ICD-10 transition, CMS has created the Online ICD-10 Guide, which can be found on the Provider Resources page. The ICD-10 website also offers checklists and timelines, as well as FAQs, guides, and tips geared toward various audiences. CMS also attends conferences and hosts online events, to educate and encourage providers to transition to ICD-10.
Health care partner associations also offer resources and training on ICD-10 designed specifically for their members. Check the Provider Resources page for a list of some partner associations that offer ICD-10 resources. The North Carolina Medical Society Foundation offers help through its PractEssentials program. For more information contact Terri Gonzalez, 919-833-3836.
With less than one year to go before the October 1, 2014, transition date, now is the time to talk to others and make progress on ICD-10.
Want more information about ICD-10?
Visit the CMS ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources to help you prepare for the October 1, 2014, deadline. Sign up for CMS ICD-10 Industry Email Updates and follow CMS on Twitter.
