To prepare for the transition, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has developed several tips to help make the conversion run smoothly:
- Identify the current systems and work processes that use ICD-9 codes.
- Talk with the practice management system vendor about accommodations for both Version 5010 and ICD-10 codes.
- Providers should develop an implementation strategy that includes an assessment of the impact on the organization, a detailed timeline and budget. Check with billing service, clearinghouse, or practice management software vendor about their compliance plans. Providers who handle billing and software development internally should plan for medical records/coding, clinical, IT, and finance staff to coordinate on ICD-10 and Version 5010 transition efforts.
- Payers should review payment policies since the transition will involve new coding rules and have an implementation plan and transition budget in place. Find out from software vendors about their readiness plans and timelines for product development, testing, availability, and training for Version 5010 and ICD-10.
- Software vendors, clearinghouses, and third-party billing services should have products and services in development allowing payers and providers to fully implement Version 5010 on January 1, 2012, and ICD-10 on October 1, 2013. Begin talking to customers now about preparing for the transition.