The four largest state medical societies have come together to warn the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that the Oct. 1 ICD-10 implementation deadline is a “looming disaster.” 

The majority of providers have not yet conducted ICD-10 testing, according to a survey by the American Health Information Management Association and eHealth Initiative. 

Recent efforts to establish a grace period around the ICD-10 transition will have "far-reaching, negative consequences," according to the Coalition for ICD-10.

Attempts to impact the ICD-10 transition keep coming with a third attempt in about a month now aiming to provide a two-year grace period for providers submitting claims. 

An ICD-10 contingency plan is needed in case the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is unable to process the new codes, members of Congress said in a letter to Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—June 3, 2015—To help hospital organizations and physician practices convert systems, reports and records into the language of ICD-10, 3M has released a new version of the 3M ICD-10 Code Translation Tool, which has been expanded to include Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) and other HCPCS codes.

Providers, clearinghouses and billing agencies have “successfully” participated in the second ICD-10 end-to-end testing week, held April 27 through May 1, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Timing and technology go hand in hand. Inventory all systems that currently include ICD-9 codes, Enos said. Working with your IS support team, finalize system changes, plans to test systems after the transition, monitor coding and reimbursement accuracy. “New technology also can boost productivity to help offset the losses that will occur during and after the transition.”