Health Information Compliance Alert
ICD-10 Implementation Checklist Helps You Get Organized
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Step by step process puts you ahead of the game. Although the major impact will be on IT systems and coding professionals, the dramatic change in ICD-10 code descriptions will mean your physicians will need to upgrade their documentation practices at all levels. Despite the postponement of this implementation, you should move forward with the steps below offered by one of our experts: 1. Identify staff training needs and complete the necessary training. 2. Design programs to help you begin parallel coding with ICD-9 and ICD-10 for current ED cases to provide feedback to providers well in advance of go-live dates. 3. Forget extensive classroom training for providers. Teach them the essentials of documentation through individualized chart critique and ongoing feedback. 4. Begin the process of identifying YOUR most common diagnoses and how they will be coded with ICD-10. 5. Arrange for assistance with coder training for YOUR system--using YOUR records, critiquing YOUR current documentation issues and identifying best (and worst) documentation practices and solutions. 6. Design reporting mechanisms for coders to use to provide feedback and suggestions to providers. 7. Conduct internal testing to make sure you can generate transactions you send with the ICD-10 codes. 8. Conduct external testing with your clearinghouses and payers to make sure you can send and receive transactions with the ICD-10 codes. In spite of what you may be hearing, it will take considerably longer than six months to ramp up provider documentation, coder expertise and system integration to assure a smooth transition. Without planning and focus, coding experts predict that your coding and audit production could be cut by IN HALF for 4-6 months AFTER the "go live" date. Thus income and expenses with be dramatically affected by the implementation, warn experts. Spot the Difference: Handy List Helps You Keep ICD-9, ICD-10 Features Straight Make your transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 easier with this rundown of the basic differences between the old and new systems. 1. ICD-10 codes are alpha numeric and up to seven characters in length; ICD-9 codes are only three to five characters 2. ICD-10-CM has 21 chapters; ICD-9 has 17. 3. ICD-9-CMs V and E codes are incorporated into the main classification in the ICD-10-CM code: Placeholders (X) are required to hold places followed by additional characters. Seventh characters are required for obstetrics, injuries and external causes of injuries. Post-operative complications will now be located specific to the procedure-specific body system. 4. ICD-10 will classify injuries first by specific site and then by type of injury. ICD-9 classified injuries by type. 5. ICD-10-CM includes full code titles for all codes, so it is not necessary to reference back to common fourth and fifth digit categories. 6. Combination codes for conditions and common symptoms or manifestations, for example:
Get Ready for ICD-10 With These CMS Templates, Planning Assistance
Whether large or small, you'll find guidance for your practice.
With less than two years to get ready for the diagnosis coding system transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10, your general surgery practice can use all the help you can find. Now, CMS aims to offer a helping hand in the process with the issuance of several new educational documents.
Take CMS' Help
On Nov. 9, CMS announced that it had developed four Implementation Handbooks that offer step-by-step instructions for small and medium-sized provider practices, large practices, small hospitals, and payers to seamlessly transition to the new coding system.
In addition to the guidance, CMS offers several templates that can aid your practice during the transition period. For instance, small and medium practices can use the "Vendor Checklist Case Template" when discussing ICD-10 with their vendors to determine whether the billing systems will be ready for the new diagnosis codes.
Resource:
To access the guidebook for small and medium practices, visit www.cms.gov/ICD10/Downloads/ICD10SmallandMediumPractices508.pdf. For more on CMS's ICD-10 transition documents, visit www.cms.gov/ICD10/.Health Information Compliance Alert
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