It should be no surprise that time is the biggest obstacle for healthcare professionals as they prepare for the ICD-10 conversion. With just over a year and a half left until the October 1, 2014 deadline, a recent survey showed that 74.6% of the respondents are only 25% or less completed in their ICD-10 implementations.
ICD-10 will have a big impact on the medical reimbursement project for healthcare organizations of every size. The ICD-10 coding classification transition is a huge code increase from ICD-9, with five times the number of codes to manage for reimbursement.
The one-year delay in the deadline for moving to the ICD-10 diagnostic coding system has been set, and many healthcare professionals are not satisfied that the delay is long enough to relieve some of the burdens that come with the transition.
The transition to new diagnosis codes that will culminate in October 2014 is predicted to be a significant burden for physician practices and possibly cause many to go out of business. At least that is what the American Medical Association and other organized medicine groups predicted in a December 20, 2012, letter.
A comprehensive ICD-10 testing service has been launched by CTG Health Solutions that will help health organizations comply with the new coding system in plenty of time before the October 2014 deadline.
The ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee, soon to be called the ICD-10-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee, is holding a meeting for coders and others where they will update them on their recent activities. The meeting is scheduled for March 5, 2013 and will also be available via webcast.
In the midst of the many challenges the transition to ICD-10 has brought to healthcare organizations, the biggest concern seems to be with training and clinical readiness. Medical providers seem to be satisfied with the technology options surrounding the transition, but worry that their staff aren't prepared and the result will be a financial disasater.
With computer-assisted coding technology increasing with technology processes, but more because of the ICD-10 transition, there is an immediate need for coding professionals to begin redefining coding roles and functions to meet emerging and future coding opportunities. Medical coding is something that requires specialized expertise and systems tailored to regulatory requirements.
In what appears to be a timely presentation, John Kuranz, CEO of Access Integrity, walked the group gathered at the 9th Annual Data Harmony Users Group through the major events that are taking place in healthcare. We talked extensively about the ICD-10 coding classification that will be implemented on October 1, 2014. Many are facing the challenges that implementation poses, and then not far behind that is ICD-11 going live in 2014.
Most healthcare organizations were pleased with the year delay for the ICD-10 implementation, but October 2014 is still coming fast. The transition efforts should not be relaxed.