Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Mark your calendars for March testing week.

Maybe you’ve done your preparation and training for the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10, but you’re still not sure if your pathology practice or laboratory is ready for the Oct. 1, 2014 deadline.

Well, the time for fretting is over. You’ll get to test out your ICD-10 coding skills this spring with a dry run that CMS plans to offer practices who want to submit sample ICD-10 claims. CMS announced the move in MLN Matters article MM8465.

Note the dates: During the week of March 3 through March 7, 2014, your MAC will allow you to send in your test claims that include ICD-10 codes. If you have difficulty processing the claims, you’ll be able to contact the help desk to figure out what went wrong. In addition, you will get electronic acknowledgement of your test claims that will tell you whether they were accepted or rejected.

After the testing period ends, CMS will share information about the percentage of test claims that were accepted versus rejected, and will offer additional information about lessons learned during the testing period.

To read more about the ICD-10 test dates, visit www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/MM8465.pdf.