One of the biggest challenges that physicians working in diagnostic radiology will handle is the implementation of the new ICD-10 code sets in October 2014. The amount of possible codes is set to nearly quadruple in size, from around 13,000 to nearly 68,000. The change might be daunting to providers who were hoping for some breathing room on the stringent deadline requirement.
The specificity the codes provide will make clinical documentation a new hurdle for providers to conquer, as they require more extensive knowledge of anatomy and injuries than ever before. However, clinicians are not alone in the challenge as medical coders must learn an entirely new code set and be able to properly identify incorrect usage by doctors and their staff.
Because of its complexity, many organizations have appealed to the CMS and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in hopes of extending the Oct. 1, 2014, deadline, including the American Medical Association. In a letter sent to the HHS last month, the AMA claimed that ICD-10 would be “financially disastrous for physicians” due to the training and education needed to learn the more than 68,000 diagnosis codes. The group contended that providers are already under the burden of adopting new technologies and changing how they deliver care to patients.
No more delay
Despite the many concerns raised by the AMA, at the recent annual conference of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society in Orlando, Florida, CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner addressed the agency’s current position on ICD-10.
“Let’s face it, we have delayed this more than once, and it is time to move on. We have already delayed the adoption standard, a standard the rest of the world has adopted many years ago, and we have delayed it several times, most recently last year. There will be no change in the deadline for ICD-10,” Tavenner said, as quoted by Medical Economics.
According to the news source, a February survey by the Medical Management Group Association found that nearly 80 percent of the respondents either had not begun implementing ICD-10 in their practices or were only somewhat ready to begin.
New resources for providers
While the CMS extended the final stages of Meaningful Use, the agency refused to budge on ICD-10. However, it recently announced that it would be launching a new eHealth University resource center, which will include tools for mitigating the Oct. 1 transition. The Web-based school is designed to help providers understand and participate in CMS eHealth programs.
EHRIntelligence reported that the university features a full curriculum of materials in one centralized location, which will make it easier for physicians to access and use. Each section is divided into organized levels based on experience, with beginner information for providers new to ICD-10 and advanced sections for those who are already familiar with the codes. The modules would come in a variety of formats, such as facts sheets, study guides, informational videos and timeline checklists for preparing to transition.
ICD-10 poses quite the challenge to providers from all corners of health care, including those who work with medical imaging. The new codes will affect how physicians enter health information into EHR software, updating their patients’ records with more specificity. Although the lack of an extension or delay to implementation may be a tough reality for health care professionals to accept, they might take solace in knowing that the CMS is doing what it can to ease the issues surrounding ICD-10. The resources may prove to be beneficial in training staff, moving them along a natural timeline of educational progress on the new coding specifics.
Contact Viztek for More Information
Latest posts by Steve Deaton (see all)
- Practice Better Radiology to Avoid Malpractice Lawsuits - July 16, 2014
- Medical Imaging Data Can Help Improve the Patient Experience - June 19, 2014
- Replace Outdated PACS Systems to Experience Cost Savings in Imaging - June 16, 2014
0
0
0
