HCIM

CMS issued a statement yesterday that “HHS will initiate a process to postpone the date by which certain health care entities have to comply with International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition diagnosis and procedure codes (ICD-10)” and also said that “HHS will announce a new compliance date moving forward.”

This will certainly be a welcomed reprieve for some providers and payers who are desperately behind and already swamped with their day-to-day operations, but don’t take your foot off the gas pedal just yet – the earlier you transition, the better. If you’re already in the middle of your ICD-10 implementation, just remember that if you stop now, it may cost you a lot more to re-start in the future.

Peggy Honts of AXIOM Systems advises, “Don’t lose your focus, momentum and resources currently budgeted to this effort. Don’t give up this extra ‘run-way’ – you will never get it back. There are always multiple priorities to satisfy in healthcare and it is not expected to get easier in the next year or two. Without knowing what extension will be granted, it is risky to bet your success on an ICD-10 reprieve.”

So while HHS may extend the ICD-10 deadline a year or two, consider taking your head start and running with it, so you can focus on growing your business while everyone else is struggling to comply with ICD-10 down the road. Make a strategic decision to complete your ICD-10 implementation before others and start benefiting from the many touted benefits of ICD-10 before your competition does.

Stay tuned for the latest information on the ICD-10 deadline…

View the “HHS announces intent to delay ICD-10 compliance date” press release >>
View the CMCS Bulletin about postponing the ICD-10 compliance deadline >>

Over 130 EZ-CAP users registered to attend HCIM and AXIOM Systems’ joint ICD-10 Educational Webinar Series, entitled “ICD-10’s Impact on Your Business.” Word traveled fast after MZI Healthcare encouraged its EZ-CAP client base to attend the free series via their EZ-Communicator email notice.

Featured speaker and leading ICD-10 and 5010 subject matter expert Peggy Honts of AXIOM Systems presented on ICD-10’s projected impact on key areas of a healthcare payer organization’s business and concluded the series with some helpful ICD-10 implementation strategies. Attendees appreciated the ICD-10 code analysis, real-life examples, and insight into impacted business areas that are often overlooked. HCIM received great feedback from this Summer 2011 series.

If you missed the webinar, you can view the ICD-10 Webinar eKit for a copy of the Mind Mapping Tool PDF, a 5010 and ICD-10 Benchmarks Timeline, a sample WEDI ICD-10 Timeline to help with your project plan, a free code converter, an exclusive special offer for an ICD-10 Impact Assessment, recordings from the four webinars, PDFs of all the session presentations, and more.

Below are the webinar polling results.

Which of the following business areas would you like to discuss throughout this webinar series?
90% – Reporting Impacts
80% – Claim/Encounter Processing
62% – Information Technology (IT)
56% – Vendor Management
52% – Disease/Population Management
40% – Monitoring Business Metrics
38% – Member Management
30% – Customer Service
28% – Testing/Trading Partner Management

What do you think will be your biggest hurdle with ICD-10?
33% – Resources (skills required for ICD-10)
33% – Staff Training
25% – Vendor Readiness
08% – Budget/Competing Priorities
00% – Executive Management Commitment

What is the sense of urgency around ICD-10 in your organization?
50% – On the radar, work is just beginning
20% – Aware, but no action yet
20% – Somewhat urgent
10% – Very urgent
00% – No urgency at all

How complete is your impact assessment?
27% – Not started yet
35% – 1-25% complete
24% – 26-50% complete
08% – 51-75% complete
05% – 76-100% complete

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your ICD-10 implementation, please email info@hcim.com or call 888-454-0202, option 5.