FROM ACADEMY ADVANTAGE PARTNERThe most critical ICD-10 to-do’s
With political and practical realities solidifying October 1, 2015, as the national conversion to ICD-10, studies gauging how U.S. providers will fare appear somewhat mixed. A nationwide poll conducted earlier this year indicated that while most practices “pressed pause” in their readiness efforts last year, 81 percent expect to be ready on October 1. However, the study also found that only 21 percent of practices were “on track” and that nearly 20 percent hadn’t even started or were unaware of their preparations.
By Bob Blakely
In the midst of such seemingly inconsistent findings, one fact was perfectly clear: Many U.S. practices still have a lot to accomplish if they’re to be prepared for ICD-10’s seismic changes. And, with less than three months to go, many groups are scrambling to make sure they’ve covered the most essential bases:
- Don’t recreate the wheel. Organizations such as CMS, HIMSS, and AHIMA offer excellent tools and educational materials that shouldn’t be overlooked. ENT-focused associations, like AAO-HNSF and the Association of Otolaryngology Administrators (www.AOAnow.org) provide similar resources, which have been tailored for practices just like yours.
- Don’t overlook your frontlines. A great deal of time has been spent educating coders and billers for ICD-10. However, a growing chorus of experts is warning that insufficiently-prepared providers will emerge as many groups’ top choke-point. ICD-10’s greater level of specificity requires point-of-care documentation to be more granular for accurately coding and billing services. Look to professional associations such as AMA and AAO-HNS for critical educational tools geared uniquely for providers’ ICD-10 needs.
- Focus on your own epicenter. The EHR and practice management systems will be your local nexus throughout the conversion. Ensure that new ICD-10 functionality will be implemented well before October 1 and make certain your staff understands how to effectively employ it. Employ your EHR’s proactive features, such as staging existing codes for ICD-10, so that they may be quickly switched to the new format. Finally, determine if vendors offer support services that specifically address the transition to ICD-10.
- Prepare for the worst. Most experts anticipate that ambulatory practices will experience moderate-to-severe productivity hits after October 1. HIMSS has advised clinics to build six-plus months of cash reserves and to secure lines of credit. More than half of U.S. hospitals will outsource coding and billing functions to third-party services to help make up the difference. Practices should identify similar services and make arrangements to “flip the switch,” if billings and reimbursements fall too much to be sustained for long.
