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Optum has launched its latest coding technology product, Optum Enterprise CAC. This computer-assisted coding (CAC) platform can help healthcare organizations accelerate their transition to ICD-10, as well as increase productivity and simplify coding and documentation processes.

In order to receive reimbursement for patient claims, healthcare providers will have to begin using a new coding classification for medical diagnosis and inpatient procedures before October 1, 2014. That seems like far in the future, but when you realize the comprehensive and complicated processes involved in transitioning, many think it isn’t long enough. The number of possible diagnostic codes will increase from 14,000 to 68,000, while the number of inpatient codes will increase from 4,000 to 87,000.

In the midst of the delay – no delay debacle, it seems like when was the burning question? Some ponder that the question should have been why? Why transition to ICD-10 at all? The reasons often given for a new coding classification often involves the need to update the data structure or to provide for more codes. Considering the new ICD-10 has five times more codes than its predecessor, it may have been part of the goal regardless of being part of the reason.

Unibased Systems Architecture will be supporting the ICD-10 medical diagnosis and inpatient procedure coding in its newest ForSite2020® release. The new release will be prepared to handle the ICD-10 code sets when the deadline of October 2014 comes around, which is good since there will be five times the number of codes in the new classification.

The ICD-10 coding transition has many in the healthcare business concerned. At the top of that list of concerns is how the new coding classifications will affect reimbursements.

ICD-10 implementation costs continue to be a concern for healthcare organizations and a common topic of conversations throughout conferences, networking and probably across a few bar stools. The extended deadline to October 2014 didn’t diminish that concern. In fact in some cases, it probably added to the pressure. The costs associated to the transition can easily reach a quarter to half a billion dollars for the information technology, training and other upgrades.

Edifecs, Inc. was chosen by Molina Healthcare as a strategic technology partner to address the ICD-10 coding classification transition.