All systems go for ICD-10?

ICD-10 was in the news this week with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reporting a successful week of end-to-end claims testing and survey results that most practices are ready for the transition.

Eighty-one percent of the test claims were accepted. In a blog post about the testing CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner said the biggest reason for rejection were non-ICD-10-related errors.

Tavenner wrote that CMS will work with outside entities and stakeholders to address those “small” deficiencies identified during the testing. She added that CMS has also learned there is some confusion within the healthcare community about the timeline for the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10.

ICD-9 must be used for services provided before the Oct. 1 deadline, she reiterated, while ICD-10 should be used for services provided on or after that date.

Two more end-to-end testing periods are scheduled in April and July.

A survey conducted by Navicure found that few physician practices currently feel on track with their preparations for the transition to ICD-10, but are still generally optimistic they will be ready when the Oct. 1 deadline hits.

The majority of respondents (81 percent) are optimistic they will be ready when the transition to ICD-10 occurs, even though just 21 percent think they are currently “on track” in their preparations. About 30 percent have started implementing ICD-10, but those efforts stalled when the ICD-10 implementation date was delayed from October 2014 to October of this year. Another 14 percent have begun preparing for the transition, but don’t think their efforts are currently on track, while 15 percent haven’t even begun their preparations.

When those respondents whose practices haven’t started preparing for ICD-10 were asked why this is the case, 25 percent said they are waiting for their practice management or EMR vendor to provide ICD-10 software updates. Thirty percent said they believe the ICD-10 deadline will be delayed once more or they still have enough time to prepare before the Oct. 1 deadline, while 23 percent said they don’t have the time, staff or resources to begin preparing.

As far as respondents’ concerns about the transition to ICD-10, the majority (59 percent) said that its impact on revenue and/or cash flow is their greatest concern. Twelve percent said their biggest concern is staff productivity, while 11 percent are worried that ICD-10 will be delayed again.

When asked what the biggest challenge to their practices will be during the ICD-10 transition, 41 percent of survey respondents identified payer readiness, while 33 percent said staff training.

It seems a lot of practices are banking on yet another delay but I'd put my money on the transition happening on October 1--this year.

Beth Walsh

Clinical Innovation + Technology editor