Transition To ICD-10 Is Not A Death Sentence
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
Challenges surrounding implementation of upcoming ICD-10 coding system might appear daunting, but benefits are there if approached it proactively
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
A survey conducted by the tax, audit, and advisory firm KPMG LLP has concluded that many healthcare practitioners are unprepared for the cash-flow interruptions that could potentially accompany new ICD-10 coding changes scheduled to begin this October. In a press release, Wayne Cafran, advisory principle in KPMG’s Healthcare and Life Sciences practices, said, “A full 50 percent stated that they had yet to estimate the new coding system’s impact on their cash flow. With estimates by those who did measure the impact tallying anywhere from $1 million to more than $15 million, healthcare organizations are in for a rude awakening when they finally realize what the new standards will have on their bottom lines.”
While 42 percent of respondents had acknowledged at least a preliminary system testing, Cafran stated that, “Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of respondents said that they have yet to or are not planning on conducting testing that involves external entities, such as health plans, providers, and trading entities,” which means that there could still be serious issues involved in the rollout.
The good news is if providers have engaged in these systems tests and are prepared for the rollout of the new coding system, a number of benefits will follow. An informational fact sheets published by the AMA comparing ICD-9 to ICD-10 reveals, “The increased specificity of the ICD-10 codes is more flexible, which means that emerging diseases can be quickly incorporated. The higher level of detail in the codes provides the ability to more precisely code the diagnosis. As with ICD-9, ICD-10 codes are to be reported at the highest level of detail possible within the code structure. ICD-10 reflects advances in medicine and medical technology making the code set more relevant to today’s understanding of diagnoses. ICD-10 also provides an improved ability to measure health care services and conduct public health surveillance.”
NueMD suggests five simple steps to start planning for ICD-10:
- outline your ICD-10 plan, making sure it is clear and concise
- identify the current workflow uses of ICD-9, focusing on the most used ICD-9 codes and their new ICD-10 equivalents using an ICD-10 code translator
- carry out gap analysis to ensure smooth coordination between entities
- determine the solutions to the gaps including additional training for coders and staff to get them up to speed on the transition implement the plan, being sure to train staff, upgrade to new software programs, run test claims, and familiarize yourself with the intricacies of this new software
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