Guest post by Frank Irving, Editor of Medical Practice Insider.
There is less than a year left until the ICD-10 compliance deadline, which means that there’s no longer time to procrastinate. The further medical practices get into the conversion, the more places they are likely to find ICD-9 within their operation — and everywhere ICD-9 is today needs to be ready for ICD-10.
“You may see ICD-10 anywhere from the front office to the back office,” Denescia Green, senior health insurance specialist at CMS, told Medical Practice Insider. “You’ll need to bring together all internal processes to ensure that everyone is on the same page.”
CMS offers physician practices free assistance in a variety of areas, including claims processing, working with clearinghouses, tips for rural providers, and information about testing.
Here are the resources most relevant to small and mid-size healthcare practices:
- Introduction to ICD-10. This downloadable (PDF) guide provides a basic ICD-10 overview, explains the rationale behind the transition from ICD-9, describes what should be in your project plan and offers questions to inform your preparation and analysis in regard to code usage.
- Online ICD-10 Guide. This resource covers planning and analysis, design, development, testing and implementation. Project and assessment tools include a checklist of ICD-10 tasks with estimated timelines and Medscape Education modules for which you can earn continuing medical education credits.
- ICD-10 Basics for Small and Rural Providers. This sheet helps you determine if you will be able to submit claims (i.e., your billing system must be able to handle Version 5010 of HIPAA claims standards); whether your EHR system can capture ICD-10 codes; how you will code your claims; and where you currently use ICD-9 codes.
- Role of Clearinghouses in the ICD-10 Transition. This document explains that clearinghouses can help you identify problems that lead to claim rejection, as well as give guidance on how to fix a rejected claim. It’s worth noting that the document clarifies that clearinghouses cannot help you identify which ICD-10 codes to use unless they offer coding services.
- Email updates. CMS sends weekly implementation tips aligned with the industry timeline for ICD-10 implementation. Click here to join the 130,000 participants who receive these notices.
- Medicare Claims Processing Guide. This seven-page article for Medicare Fee-For-Service providers gives details on claims submissions, including those that span the ICD-10 implementation date.
- Medicare Testing Week. This document explains what will happen March 3-7, 2014, when providers will have access to Medicare Administrative Contractors for ICD-10 testing with real-time help desk support.
CMS has publicly stated that the Oct 1, 2014 compliance date is firm and will not change. The next 10 months will fly by quickly. Use these resources to help make sure your practice is completely prepared with proper staff training and any applicable system upgrades.
Click here for a full index of ICD-10 materials available from CMS.
