ICD-10 Compliance Step 4

 

Get Ready Now with the New CMS Quick Start Guide!

While ICD-10 is almost here, you still have time to get ready. But you must get ready now.

This week CMS is highlighting the 5 steps from the new Quick Start Guide: 1) Make a Plan, 2) Train Your Staff, 3) Update Your Processes, 4) Talk with Your Vendors and Health Plans, and 5) Test Your Systems and Processes. The focus of this article is:

Step: 4 Talk to Your Vendors & Health Plans

Step4

  • Call your vendors to confirm the ICD-10 readiness of your practice’s systems 
  • Confirm that the health plans, clearinghouses, and third-party billing services you work with are ICD-10 ready 
  • Ask vendors, health plans, clearinghouses, and third-party billers about testing opportunities

Tips

  • You can use forms available in the Road to 10’s Template Library to guide discussions with vendors, health plans, clearinghouses, and billing services 
  • Double check that you’ve identified all systems that use ICD codes—e.g., practice management systems, electronic health record (EHR) products—when contacting vendors 
  • Update contracts with vendors and health plans as needed 
  • Transition costs for small medical practices could be substantially lower than projected earlier: 
    • Many EHR vendors are including ICD-10 in their systems or upgrades—at little or no cost to their customers 
    • Software and systems costs for ICD-10 could be minimal for many providers

To learn more about getting ready, visit cms.gov/ICD10 for free resources including the Road to 10 tool designed especially for small and rural practices, but useful for all health care professionals.

Keep Up to Date on ICD-10
Visit the CMS ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources to help you prepare. Sign up for CMS ICD-10 Industry Email Updates and follow CMS.gov on Twitter.

 

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