Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

Ready or not, ICD-10 testing is here. Your MAC will allow you to submit test claims using ICD-10 codes on them from March 3 to March 7 if you’ve registered to participate. Here’s what you need to know about the testing, according to CMS’s Transmittal 1353, published on Feb. 26:

• You must use current dates of service on your test claims, even though ICD-10 doesn’t go live until Oct. 1. For example, if you’re submitting a claim for a procedure that took place on Feb. 27, use that as your date of service rather than a date in the future.
• You’ll get a 277CA or 999 acknowledgement of your claim to confirm that it was either accepted or rejected from the system.
• Testing will not confirm payment or produce a remittance advice during this round of testing
• MACs will have additional staff members on-hand to answer questions on the provider relations phone lines during the testing week in anticipation of increased call volume.

To read CMS’s testing week transmittal, visit www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/Downloads/R1353OTN.pdf.