Home Health & Hospice Week

After months — maybe years — of preparation, the countdown to ICD-10 liftoff is nearly over.

Hopefully you’re well prepared for the transition that will take place Oct. 1. But if you’re not, the American Medical Association offers some last minute steps from Rhonda Buckholtz, vice president of ICD-10 education and training for the American Academy of Professional Coders:

• Call your vendors immediately. The time for testing is over, but you can make sure your software is up to date and get tips.
• Train staff ASAP. You can use free resources from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (www.roadto10.org), among others.
• Focus on your top diagnosis codes. Aim for the top 10 to 15.
• Track claims. Once you start using ICD-10, make sure your claims are processing. Don’t let the period of time where you’re using both ICD-9 and ICD-10 cloud your reimbursement picture.
• Establish cash reserves for an emergency. Make sure you’ll have a line of credit or cash on hand.

Remember: For home health agencies, whether you use ICD-9 or ICD-10 codes will depend on the M0090 date for OASIS and the “From” and “Through” dates for RAPs and claims (see Eli’s HCW, Vol. XXIV, No. 32 for details).

Does NOTR Need A Code Or Not?

For hospices, any Notices of Election or Notices of Termination/Revocation that have dates of service Oct. 1 or later and ICD-9 codes will be returned, stresses the National Association for Home Care & Hospice. “This may result in an untimely NOE and loss of some days of payment for the hospice,” NAHC warns its members. Confusion: HHH Medicare Administrative Contractor National Government Services recently said NOTRs don’t require a diagnosis code (see Eli’s HCW, Vol. XXIV, No. 33). But the CMS Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 11 indicates it is required, NAHC contends in its member newsletter.

“We … understand from CMS that clarification of this issue is forthcoming,” NAHC says.

Meanwhile, hospices should make sure they aren’t using banned manifestation and other unspecified ICD-10 codes as principal diagnoses on their claims, NAHC warns. See CRs 8877 and 9290 for the specific codes that will get your claims kicked:

www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/downloads/R3032CP.pdf and www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/Downloads/R3328CP.pdf.