EM Coding Alert

Use this time to test your systems to eliminate pain later.

Whether you’re waiting with bated breath for the next official ICD-10 release date or hoping for another delay, the new release date for ICD-10 has been announced as October 1st, 2015. But don’t let the additional year slow your preparations. 

Read on to see why experts say you should continue your ICD-10 training to ensure you are 110 percent ready by next fall. 

Practice, Plan, and Educate During the Delay 

Work is still taking place in practices, offices, and in organizations devoted to training the medical community. “Testing is underway with some health plans already, and CMS is going to offer testing,” says Betty A. Hovey, CPC, CPC-H, CPB, CPMA, CPC-I, CPCD, director, ICD-10 Development and Training at the AAPC in Salt Lake City. “All pieces of the puzzle are working toward the end goal of implementation of ICD-10 at this point. Everyone seems to be getting geared back up and in transition mode. By October 1, 2015 I feel that the industry should be fully prepared for the migration to the new coding system,” adds Hovey.

Don’t expect another delay: “If the October 1st, 2015 date for the release of ICD-10 happens, it will be a positive experience,” says Pamela Biffle, CPC, CPC-P, CPC-I, CCS-P, CPCO, owner of PB Healthcare Consulting and Education Inc. in Austin, Texas. “They cannot keep the delay going.”