What is ICD-10?
The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) is the United States' clinical modification to the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). ICD-10 was adopted by the World Health Assembly in 1990 to replace ICD-9. The United States remains the only industrialized nation that has not yet implemented ICD-10 for morbidity. On January 16, 2009, the long-awaited final rule to adopt ICD-10-CM in the U.S. was published by CMS with a compliance date of October 1, 2013. In September of 2012 after announcing a possible delay in ICD-10 implementation, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sibelius announced the release of a rule that finalized a one-year proposed delay – from October 1, 2013 to Oct. 1, 2014 – in the compliance date for the industry’s transition to ICD-10 codes.
Final Rule 45 CFR Part 162 “Administrative Simplification” concerning adoption of a standard unique health plan identifier, addition to the NPI requirements, and the ICD-10 implementation date was published in the Federal Register on September 5, 2012.
ICD-10-CM provides many more categories for diseases and other health-related conditions than ICD-9-CM, as well as a higher level of specificity by including separate codes for laterality and additional characters and extension s for expanded detail. The number of codes available will increase from approximately 14,000 to approximately 69,000 diagnoses codes and from approximately 4,000 to approximately 85,000 procedure codes. In addition to an increase in the number of codes, the code structure changes from five to seven alphanumeric characters. The changes are designed to provide more specificity and accuracy in the assignment of diagnoses and procedures in support of reporting better quality of care data and improved accuracy in billing and claims submissions. The switch from ICD-9 to ICD-10 affects all aspects of the healthcare business and requires a full analysis of policies, procedures and information systems that may be affected by this change. By any definition, it is a large project.
CMS originally recommended beginning the ICD-10 Implementation planning process in 2010 so that system and process changes could take place in 2012 with testing to begin by second quarter 2013. Due to the overhwhelming number of providers that were behind schedule and increased pressure from organizations such as the AMA, CMS announced that they would be delay the implementation date by one year to October 1st, 2014. Despite requests to delay ICD-10 implementation even further, it is certain that CMS intends to move forward with the transition to ICD-10. At this point, most healthcare providers are still behind schedule and we urge you to begin planning now. Do not wait to begin your implementation process. On February 24, 2012, David Sayen, a regulatory director for CMS, announced, "Stay the course with ICD-10 preparation." This is not the time to relax; it is the time to "catch up." In order to get the implementation process started, Complete Practice Resources provides you with a complete suite of services and software solutions custom tailored to fit the needs of your organization.
For more information about our software and services or to learn more about how we can help your business call us at 855-ICD-9210 or, contact us.
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