After multiple delays, it’s finally official. The 10th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) will be implemented on October 1, 2015. More than 68,000 codes will be available for the billing and coding of medical services and diagnoses.
While the update is a positive step in modernizing our health care infrastructure, it also brings a level of concern over the anticipated learning curve and the frustration that comes with it. Given the years of delays in the implementation schedule, the hope is that practices have used that time to prepare and plan for the costs they will incur as a result of the change.
Are you prepared for the switch?
October 1 is quickly approaching. Hopefully your staff has an understanding of what changes ICD-10 will bring and you’re ready for the transition. If that’s not the case, time is of the essence. Check out this list of provider resources, which includes a Quick Start Guide and the Road to 10 website, both offered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
ICD-10 will impact every aspect of how your practice operates so it’s not only important to be prepared, it’s critical. The conversion, although a disruption that most would choose to avoid, will include substantial benefits that are far reaching and, looking back, will have been well worth the effort.
Want to learn more? Read some of our previous blog posts that focus on the ICD-10 transition:
What is ICD-10?
ICD-10 Update: What you need to know
