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COVER STORY


Planning for ICD-10


The new coding system will pose challenges for health care facilities, but there are ways to make the transition easier. BY KEVIN MCDONALD


W


ith new discoveries in medical science happening almost daily,


hundreds of new procedures require di- agnosis codes each year. Under the cur- rent coding system, the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9), the US is running out of codes. The transition to ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes will provide more codes and greater specificity, facilitating better analysis of disease patterns and treat- ment outcomes that can advance medi- cal care. These expanded details will also help streamline claims submissions as they will make the initial claim much easier for payers to understand. In August, the US Department of Health and Human Services an- nounced final plans to postpone the date by which certain health care enti- ties must comply with ICD-10 codes. Now, the new date for compliance is


October 1, 2014. Creating additional confusion, the American Medical Association is questioning whether skipping ICD-10 and transitioning at a later date to ICD-11 would be less burdensome to physicians. Politics aside, one thing is clear:


some form of a new coding system will be implemented. Until then, much of the health care industry— the ASC community included—will remain in limbo. The delay gives a bit of relief to


ASCs. This is good news as ICD-10’s impact on ASCs will be arduous. The basic knowledge that coders have today will not be sufficient moving forward, nor will it be enough for physicians to properly document and code procedures. Significant educa- tion and training will be required to ensure a successful transition.


12 ASC FOCUS NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2012


Contrary to what many believe, the impact on day-to-day operations will go beyond just billing. Codes are used at many different places within an ASC, and all of these places will need to be identified well in advance of ICD-10. With implementation expected to take 45 to 90 days before an ASC is fully up and running with the new codes, wait- ing until the go-live date could prove costly in terms of cash flow. While some ASCs are taking a “wait and see” attitude in anticipation of an- other possible delay in the implementa- tion date, facilities can do many things in advance to minimize the disruptions of ICD-10 (or ICD-11) when it arrives. Taking a proactive approach will help lessen the burden on your staff and en- able your center to avoid disruptions in revenue. To help you in your transition, consider taking the steps that follow.


1. Plan for anatomy and physiology training for coders. What coders know today isn’t going to be sufficient once ICD-10 takes effect.


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