Health Information Management

Tip: Collaboration with physicians and payers key to ICD-10-CM readiness

APCs Insider, October 10, 2014

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When the surprise delay came only six months prior to implementation, providers were at various stages of ICD-10 readiness.
 
Preparation consists of three major categories:
  • Technology providers, including EHR software vendors, integration partners such as labs, clearinghouses, and payers.
  • Processes, including clinical documentation, coding, revenue cycle management, and other office workflows, such as referrals.
  • People, including providers and clinicians, office managers, coders and billers, and other office staff.  
Providers should ask their technology vendors these questions:
  • Can they currently accept ICD-10-CM codes? If not, when will that be possible?
  • Can providers dual code, submitting both ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM codes?
  • Do they provide clinical documentation tools to help code to the level of specificity ICD-10 requires?
  • Does the functionality fit in with the current practice workflow?
  • What is the cost of upgrading to an ICD-10-ready version of the current software?
Providers should also have a dedicated ICD-10 team, with clearly defined roles for project leaders and decision-makers.
 
This tip is adapted from “Collaboration with physicians and payers key to ICD-10-CM readiness” in the October issue of Briefings on APCs.



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