CMS offers four-pronged ICD-10 testing approach

Backing up the final rule cementing Oct. 1, 2015, as the new implementation date for ICD-10, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has outlined a "comprehensive four-pronged approach" to help providers prepare.

The plan includes the following:

  • Internal testing by CMS of its claims processing systems
  • Provider-initiated beta testing tools
  • Acknowledgement testing
  • End-to-end testing

For the end-to-end efforts, CMS says approximately 2,550 volunteer providers will have three separate opportunities for testing with the goals of determining whether providers can successfully submit claims with ICD-10 codes to the Medicare fee-for-service claims systems; to demonstrate that CMS software changes in support of ICD-10 will result in "appropriately adjudicated claims;" and to ensure that accurate remittance advice is produced.

Access more information about the preparations here.

Beth Walsh,

Editor

Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.

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