MLN Connects National Provider Call Helps With ICD-10 Countdown
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
The conference call will provide updates, guidance, and tips for making the ICD-10 transition easier.
CMS has announced there will be an MLN Connects National Provider Call on August 27 to help providers with the countdown to the ICD-10 transition, which occurs on October 1, 2015. The MLN Connects event will run 2:30-4:00pm ET and the agenda includes:
- national implementation updates from CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt
- coding guidance from the AHA and AHIMA
- resources for getting answer to coding questions
- discussion of claims that span the implementation date
- results acknowledgement and end-to-end testing weeks
- a list of provider resources
The national call is designed for medical coders, physicians, office staff, nurses, non-physician practitioners, provider billing staff, health records staff, vendors, educators, system managers, laboratories, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, Medicare providers, and any other individuals who will be dealing with medical coding under ICD-10.
A recent Health IT Outcomes article outlined 10 steps to take to help healthcare organizations make the ICD-10 transition smoothly, including: understanding ICD-10; creating an internal implementation and communication team; reviewing impact areas of the healthcare practice and modifying processes; reaching out to software vendors; developing a budget; contacting clearinghouses and health plans; improving clinical documentation; training staff; testing the systems; and establishing contingency plans.
An earlier eHealth Initiative survey conducted in conjunction with AHIMA demonstrated that ICD-10 preparedness is lagging as the transition deadline quickly approaches. According to Health Data Management, many providers say they will continue to work on the transition after the official date.
“It’s very concerning that about 14 percent of physician practices and almost 12 percent of the small organization category have not completed any of the steps to prepare for ICD-10,” said Sue Bowman, AHIMA’s senior director of coding policy and compliance. “That is extremely concerning since it is now mid-June and the October 1 compliance date is fast approaching.”
Space for the National Provider Call is limited, so to register, please click here.