Urology Coding Alert

IPPS reinforces Oct. 1, 2015 date. 

Although it was over a month ago that Congress voted to extend the ICD-10 implementation date, CMS has been strangely mum on the topic, which was puzzling to many providers who were eager to find out when they’ll have to start using ICD-10 codes. However, a new proposed rule seems to suggest that the implementation date was pushed back by exactly one year.

The 2015 Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule cites Oct. 1, 2015 as the new ICD-10 implementation date in several different spots. “The ICD-10-CM/PCS transition is scheduled to take place on October 1, 2015,” the proposed rule states on page 648. In addition, the document refers to the 2015 date in two other instances as well. 

Additionally: The CMS Web site seems to mirror that new date detail with the statement “On April 1, 2014, the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA) (Pub. L. No. 113-93) was enacted, which said that the Secretary may not adopt ICD-10 prior to October 1, 2015. Accordingly, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services expects to release an interim final rule in the near future that will include a new compliance date that would require the use of ICD-10 beginning October 1, 2015. The rule will also require HIPAA covered entities to continue to use ICD-9-CM through September 30, 2015.”

Keep an eye on Urology Coding Alert for more as the ICD-10 date is confirmed by CMS officials in the coming months