Preparing For Icd-10 Implementation

By Author: jvionhealth health
Total Articles: 11
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The federal government is not changing the deadline of the ICD-10 implementation on Oct. 1, 2013. That means you have to convert your system to the new requirements if you want to escape the penalties as well as the ensuing consequences of failing to comply. If you feel you are not competent enough to handle this complex task, you can outsource it to a technological solutions service provider to make sure your system is up to the standards set by the government.

Identifying your system

If you are using ICD-9 now, you have to understand that it’s going to be very difficult to convert to the new system just because of the sheer amount of data and process involved. But first you have to evaluate your manual and digital procedures in order to identity gaps so you can know which areas to prioritise in the conversion. At the very least, the paperwork is going to be bloody as you may have to change your super bills to include the ICD-10 codes conversion. The staff will have to learn new codes and procedures and any mistake could have dire consequences.

Take the reimbursement claims, for example, any wrong ...
... code under the new requirements may result to delayed payments from insurance companies or absolutely zero payments. It’s best if you can install software to handle the code selection.

The devil is in the details

Healthcare leaders believe that the new system will mean less productivity as each personnel will spend 15% more time on the paperwork, according to one ICD-10 analysis. The documentation required is going to be more detailed to input the diagnostic codes according to very rigid standards. You will also have to change all your digital health records one by one to contain the new codes. But the conversion will heavily impact on your staffing needs as you need to identify which of your personnel will handle which task. Then you have to make sure that the employees are trained sufficiently to handle the requirements of the new diagnostic, billing and reporting codes.

Testing your system

Now that you already planned and designed your ICD-10 conversion , how can you guarantee that the system you are going to implement before the deadline is up to the standards? You can employ outside help to conduct your ICD-10 analysis so you will get a full assessment of the impacts of the new system to your operation and finances. By testing your system in real-time, you can identify gaps and weaknesses in your documentation and IT capabilities.