If you’ve followed our ICD-10 series, you’re probably well-prepared for the Oct. 1 deadline. Use this last month before the transition to finalize your plans.
What to tackle in September
Use these tips from the AMA and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Road to 10 Implementation Guide to bring your practice up to speed for the new code set.
Still getting started?
Even though you may have gotten a late start in prepping for ICD-10, by now you have tackled a lot and should be in good shape if you’ve been taking the steps in our monthly guide. Spend your final month before the transition preparing for claims processing disruptions.
While the AMA has secured provisions from CMS to ease the transition to the new code set, physicians still should be ready, especially because private payers may not ease up their claims payment processes.
Make sure you have taken the most important steps to prevent cash flow interruptions. They are to ensure:
- Your systems can accommodate the ICD-10 codes
- Your staff is trained
- You have tested thoroughly with your trading partners
If you’ve been following a solid transition plan, you should be well-prepared to handle any potential claims disruptions. Learn what else your practice can do to prepare financially for ICD-10.
More ways to prepare
Additional important resources that can help you get ready over the next few weeks include:
- Six things you should know about the ICD-10 transition and the flexibilities the AMA secured for physicians
- Additional ICD-10 content at AMA Wire® provides important insights for what you need to know about the new code set.
- CMS also is offering free assistance, including its “Road to 10” website aimed specifically at smaller physician practices. This collection includes primers for clinical documentation, clinical scenarios and other specialty-specific resources to help with implementation. Read more about the agency’s resource offerings.
