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ASCs in the news: HHS announces timeline for transition to ICD-10-CM

Ambulatory Surgery Reimbursement Update, August 26, 2008

On August 15, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a proposed regulation to replace the ICD-9-CM code sets now used to report healthcare diagnoses and inpatient procedures with the more advanced ICD-10-CM code set currently used in other nations. Under the proposal, implementation will take place October 1, 2011.

A separate proposal would adopt the X12 standard, Version 5010, and the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs standard, Version D.0, for electronic transactions, such as healthcare claims. According to HHS, adoption of Version 5010 is essential to use ICD-10-CM.

The HHS announcement states that the United States would adopt ICD-10-CM for diagnosis coding and ICD-10-PCS for inpatient hospital procedure coding. The new codes would replace the ICD-9-CM volumes 1 and 2 for diagnosis coding and volume 3 for procedure codes.

 
Gloryanne Bryant, BS, RHIA, RHIT, CCS, senior director of coding and health information management (HIM) compliance for Catholic Healthcare West in San Francisco, says having a proposed implementation date will be helpful in preparing for the transition and developing a timeline. “I’m very excited and elated that it has come to this,” she says.

The comment period for the ICD-10-CM code sets proposed rule and updated transaction standards proposed rule ends on October 21.

To view the regulations, click here.

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