AHIMA posts ICD-10 practice briefs

On October 2, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) posted three new practice briefs related to ICD-10 on its Web site. Click on “All current practice briefs in chronological order by publication date, and then access the three briefs:

• ICD-10-CM/PCS Project Management Resources
• Transitioning ICD-10-CM/PCS Data Management Processes
• Planning Organizational Transition to ICD-10-CM/PCS

It can be a challenge sifting through all the ICD-10 information out on the Web these days,  deciding what’s fluff and what’s not. Trust me–you don’t want to miss out on these valuable nuggets from the AHIMA. For example, consider this excerpt from the “Planning Organizational Transition to ICD-10-CM/PCS” practice brief:

The transition and post-implementation period will likely require parallel coding support. Assessing coder workload and preparing for the compliance date will assist in reducing the variability and backlog as the transition occurs. To begin planning, management can assess the potential impacts and areas of weakness by determining:

• What to communicate to the medical staff about documentation
• What companies can be subcontracted for coding and when this process should begin
• What phasing out of just-in-time ICD-9-CM coding will mean to the organization
• The best coders to assist in phasing out cases up to September 30, 2013
• Any temporary changes to time-off policies and their implications leading up to the compliance date
• If one set of coders will conduct the phase out or if each coder participates once October 1, 2013, arrives