News Feature | September 11, 2015

90 Percent Of Texas Physicians Lack Confidence In ICD-10

Katie Wike

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

ICD-10 Delay

A Texas Medical Association survey found only 10 percent of physicians in the state report being confident in the upcoming switch to ICD-10.

A survey from the Texas Medical Association has found only 10 percent of physicians in the state feel “very confident” that their practice will be ready for the impending transition to ICD-10. The association surveyed 936 TMA members and non-members, nearly half of whom were solo practitioners.

iHealth Beat reports physicians are expecting the worst on October 1:

  • 83 percent of respondents expect the transition to result in delayed or denied claims
  • 36 percent expect to face disruptions that require them to draw from personal funds
  • 32 percent said they might reduce staff size, work hours or benefits
  • 30 percent said they might retire early because of anticipated cash-flow issues related to the transition

“It’s horrible,” said TMA President Tom Garcia, MD. “The United States is the only country that couples the ICD coding with payment. The implications are that the doctor/patient relationship is going to be stressed.”

Among TMA respondents with EHRs:

  • 65 percent said they are capable of processing ICD-10 codes
  • 52 percent said their practice management software was capable of processing ICD-10 codes
  • 1 percent said they will need to completely replace their IT systems to comply with ICD-10

Astonishingly, the report notes, “Ninety-seven percent of respondents currently treat patients in active medical practice. Among physicians who quit treating patients in active medical practice, 48 percent quit due to regulatory and/or administrative burdens and 22 percent quit due to ICD-10.”