COUNTDOWN TO ICD-10, WCH IS READY, ARE YOU?

This year the health care industry will adopt and use International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes. The Department of Health and Human Services mandates the use of ICD-10 codes for dates of service on or after October 1, 2014.

Ever wondered Why is the United States moving from ICD-9 to ICD-10-CM?

ICD-9-CM has several problems. Foremost, it is out of room. Because the classification is organized scientifically, each three-digit category can have only 10 subcategories. Most numbers in most categories have been assigned diagnoses. Medical science keeps making new discoveries, and there are no numbers to assign these diagnoses.

Computer science, combined with new, more detailed codes of ICD-10-CM, will allow for better analysis of disease patterns and treatment outcomes that can advance medical care. These same details will streamline claims submissions, since these details will make the initial claim much easier for payers to understand.

REMEMBER

October 1, 2014 - Compliance date for implementation of ICD-10-CM (diagnoses) and ICD-10-PCS (procedures)

- No delays

- No grace period

CMS Myth and Fact Sheet Implementation planning should be undertaken with the assumption that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will grant an extension beyond the October 1, compliance date.

HHS has no plans to extend the compliance date for implementation of ICD-10-CM/PCS; therefore, covered entities should plan to complete the steps required in order to implement ICD-10-CM/PCS on October 1, 2014.