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.
Pingar recently introduced its beta Taxonomy Generator Service, which will enable enterprises to generate instant taxonomies from an analysis of the content on large internal document sets.
Many are concerned about the financial burden that the ICD-10 implementation might create for healthcare providers. However, there are some ways the physicians can improve the clinical documentation and therefore the coding reimbursements. Being creatures of habit, they have tended to rely on memorized codes. If the reliance on memorization is minimized, reimbursements can improve. There are more anatomic specific codes in the new system, and that makes memorization even more difficult.
Computer assisted indexing can be a huge help in building a solid information architecture. We know that. We live that. However, it doesn't solve all the problems. You still need solid medical coding training to face the challenges that will come with the ICD-10 coding classification transition.
In the middle of the AMA and other professional organizations still seeking to get the ICD-10 coding classification transition delayed or stopped completely, the Association for Health Information Management (AHIMA) is encouraging providers to not stop and wait, but to continue training and preparing.
With the many challenges facing healthcare organizations as they prepare for the ICD-10 coding classification transition, many are seeking help.