GAO Reports CMS Is Prepared for ICD-10
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report last week indicating that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is adequately preparing for ICD-10 implementation to go ahead on October 1, 2015. The report provides an overview of CMS activites related to the ICD-10 transition and indicates that both Medicare and Medicaid agencies have taken the appropriate steps.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) noted, “While additional testing will be needed to ensure its success, the transition to the new system will streamline the management of healthcare records and improve patient care. I will continue to keep a close eye on this issue but see no reason for any delay past the October deadline.”
ICD-10 Basics
Basic resources are a great place to start if you are looking for background information on the ICD-10 transition. These resources feature overviews tailored by audience, including small and rural practices, payers, and non-covered entities.
- The ICD-10 Transition: An Introduction
- ICD-10 Basics for Medical Practices
- ICD-10 Basics for Small and Rural Practices
- ICD-10 Basics for Payers
- The ICD-10 Transition: Focus on Non-Covered Entities
Communicating About ICD-10
Communication between health care providers, software vendors, clearinghouses, and billing agents is vital to a successful transition. Learn how to get the conversation started with these resources:
- Talking to Your Vendors About ICD-10: Tips for Medical Practices
- Questions to Ask Your Systems Vendors about ICD-10
- The Role of Clearinghouses in ICD-10
- Talking to Your Customers About ICD-10: Tips for Software Vendors
Road to 10
Available on the Provider Resources page of the CMS website, the “Road to 10” tool is an online resource built with input from providers in small practices. Intended to help small medical practices jumpstart their ICD-10 transition, “Road to 10” includes specialty references and the capability to build tailored action plans.
Medscape Education Modules
CMS has released two videos and an expert column to help providers prepare for ICD-10. These Medscape education modules offer an overview of ICD-10 for small practices. Continuing medical education (CME) and nursing continuing education (CE) credits are available to providers who complete these resources. Anyone with a free Medscape account can receive a certificate of completion. You can find these resources on the Provider Resources page.
Keep Up to Date on ICD-10
Visit the CMS ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources to help you prepare and sign up for CMS ICD-10 Industry Email Updates.
At the state level, NCTracks also is available to answer your ICD-10 Questions
From now until ICD-10 goes live in October, you can send your ICD-10 questions and comments to [email protected]. They say you will get an answer personally, and they will track the types of questions they get to share with all NCTracks users.
NCMS’ Solution Center also has the answer. Contact the Solution Center Coordinator Belinda McKoy (919-833-3836 x142), and she will get an answer to your ICD-10 question.