All Entries in the "Technology" Category
Questions to ask your IT team
During a November 17 virtual meeting hosted by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), co-presenter Laurine Johnson, MS, RHIA, CPC-H, director of HIM services at Ingenix, gave the following list of questions you should ask your information technology (IT) team to prepare for ICD-10 implementation:
- How does 5010 impact my ICD-10 implementation?
- Which databases contain ICD-9-CM codes?
- Which software packages include ICD-9-CM codes?
- Which interfaces include ICD-9-CM?
- What reports contain ICD-9-CM codes?
- How does ICD-10 impact my electronic health record?
- How many vendors are involved with the software, databases, connectivity, and interfaces?
- What are the vendor plans for implementing ICD-10 and how does it impact this organization?
- Should we convert data from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10? Should we convert ICD-10 data to ICD-9-CM codes?
- Does software need to be upgraded or replaced?
- What will be the capital and operating budget impact?
- What is the testing plan?
Have you already consulted with your IT team regarding ICD-10 implementation? Are there other questions you would add to this list? Were you surprised to hear any of the answers your IT team provided? Share your feedback, and post a comment!
Find answers to your ICD-10 questions
Over the last six months, I have noticed that the FAQ sections for different associations and organizations have increased in size and detail. Are you interested in learning the answers to the following questions:
- How soon after a code has been added or deleted will the General Equivalence Mappings (GEM) be updated to reflect these changes?
- Will there be a phase-in time period for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS where providers can use either ICD-9-CM or the ICD-10 based coding systems?
- Am I going to have to sit for my CPC (-H, -P) again to keep my AAPC credential once ICD-10-CM is implemented?
Check out the FAQ pages for the following organizations:
Check out the latest ICD-10 resources
On November 12, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is hosting a virtual meeting titled, “ICD-10 Implementation for Hospitals.” According to AHIMA Web site, the program will help attendees:
- Discover how 5010 affects ICD-10-CM/PCS implementation
- Understand General Equivalency Mappings (GEMs) and mapping at an organizational level
- Determine how this implementation affects the HIM and coding professional
- Identify an appropriate impact assessment plan
- Recognize the extent of code set updates on the organization
A live question and answer portion immediately follows the meeting. For AHIMA members, you’ll have to pay $265 to attend, $315 for nonmembers. ICD-10 Watch will cover the highlights in a future blog.
Looking for a resource that is easier on the purse strings? On November 19, CMS is hosting a free national provider conference call to address the ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Conversion Project. This outreach call describes the preliminary exercise CMS undertook to convert data using the GEMs, which were developed to assist CMS and other data users who need to convert ICD-9-CM data or payment systems to the relevant ICD-10-CM/PCS codes and ICD-10-CM/PCS codes back to the relevant ICD-9-CM codes. CMS will discuss the following topics during the conference call:
• How ICD-9-CM based MS-DRG, version 26.0, were converted to ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS codes
• The best way to use the GEMs in converting data
You must register to attend this call. Registration will close at 12:30 p.m. EST on November 18, or when available space has been filled. CMS will post written and audio transcripts shortly after the conference call on the CMS Web site.
Finally, the American Hospital Association (AHA) recently mailed members an executive briefing book to help hospitals prepare to transition to ICD-10. The resource covers aspects from organizing an implementation team to conducting an impact analysis and performing a post-implementation evaluation. AHA members can download additional copies of the guide on the AHA Web site.
Share you best resources on ICD-10 Watch! Post your comments, and tell us about the most interesting ICD-10 resource and tips you have encountered.
Check out AHIMA’s implementation preparation checklist
There are a number of ICD-10 checklists floating around out there in cyberspace, but this one created by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and included in a recent CMS presentation is one of the best ones I’ve seen. The AHIMA suggests the following checklist when performing an ICD-10 impact assessment:
- Establish interdisciplinary steering committee to oversee implementation
- Educate affected departments and individuals about the change in code sets and what it meansfor their area of responsibility (both in terms of
- preparation planning and benefits)
- Assess organizational readiness for the change to the ICD-10 code set
- Assess impact of change on organizational operations
- Assess staff education needs
- Identify reports and forms requiring modification (e.g., physician practice superbill)
- Assess extent of changes to systems, processes, policies/procedures
- Use code set change as opportunity to improve data flow, work flows, and processes
- Perform comprehensive systems audit for ICD-10 compatibility
- Determine vendor readiness and timeline for upgrading software to new code sets
- Assess quality of medical record documentation and implement documentation improvement program if necessary
- Develop implementation budget
But it’s good to look at this checklist as a skeleton upon which to build your own impact assessment because it’s easy to see how each one of these bullets could have its own subset of smaller checklists. Do you have a checklist you would like to share? Post a comment, your checklist, or the Web link to the checklist so we can all take a look!
Two timelines plot out progress toward ICD-10 and 5010
The thought of sitting down and creating an ICD-10 transition timeline from scratch can be daunting. If you want some inspiration, check out these two timelines that are posted on the North Carolina Healthcare Information and Communication Alliance (NCHICA), Inc. Web site.
These timelines were discussed at the 17th National HIPAA Summit last week in Washington, DC, during a presentation given by Stanley Nachimson, principal at Nachimson Advisors, LLC, in Resterstown, MD, and director of the WEDI-NCHICA Timeline Project, and a former senior advisor for HIT at CMS.
Nachimson stressed that software vendors, payers, and providers all need to take an active role in planning for the transition to HIPAA 5010.
“The key is to take a look at how your business is going to have to change,” Nachimson said during the presentation. “It makes no sense to wait for the vendor to figure out how [the transition to HIPAA 5010] is going to impact your business. Look at the changes now, and make sure your vendors support these necessary changes.”
He said that providers should have already completed their impact assessment when it comes to ICD-10, adding that most will be amazed at the number of functions that the switch to ICD-10 will affect.
“You need to be able to report the codes, but you also have to have the right documentation to support the ICD-10 codes, so you have to think of other processes that must also change,” he said. “If you haven’t started planning, you’re already behind the curve.”
3M releases ICD-10 code translation tool
On September 16, 3M Health Information Systems announced that it had released the 3M™ ICD-10 Code Translation Tool, a new software application that helps convert ICD-9 based applications to ICD-10. The software assists providers and payers in translating ICD-9 codes from existing information systems into the language of ICD-10.
“Since patient care, revenue cycle, quality and coding functions must continue during the transition, it’s essential that organizations have a comprehensive strategy for converting existing ICD-9 applications to ICD-10 based applications,” said Tom Anastasio, senior vice president of provider markets for 3M Health Information Systems. “Translating systems, reports and records—any application where ICD-9 codes are used—will provide critical information that providers and payers can use immediately to educate staff, update processes, and prepare for a successful ICD-10 implementation.”
The 3M ICD-10 Code Translation Tool can be used to convert existing systems and software applications to ICD-10, or to create customized mappings for specific business needs. The 3M ICD-10 Code Translation Tool identifies all reasonable ICD-10 alternatives for the ICD-9 codes held in an information system, and performs automated mappings where a simple one-to-one map exists. The software then isolates the remaining complex codes and provides the user with reference data to assist in fine-tuning the final conversions to ICD-10.
Under contract with CMS, 3M developed the ICD-10 Procedure Coding System (PCS) and the General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), and produced the initial conversion of MS-DRGs to ICD-10.
Learn more about the ICD-10 Code Translation tool by accessing the 3M Web site.
Register for CMS education call on HIPAA Version 5010
CMS will host its third national Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) education call on HIPAA Version 5010 on September 9, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Providers will need to transition to this new transaction standard to be ready for ICD-10 implementation in 2013. Learn more about this vital switch to HIPAA Version 5010 by accessing a recent JustCoding.com story.
The presentation will cover:
- Medicare FFS error handling transactions (TA1, 999, and 277CA)
- Planned use of each transaction
- Applicable rules and exceptions for the Medicare FFS program
It’s important to note that this presentation is geared toward billing software programmers or developers that reside within provider organizations. So if you’re a medical coder or HIM staff member, it’s important that you pass this information along to your IT department.
You must register for the call. If you are planning to sit in with a group, only one person needs to register to receive the call-in data. This registration is solely to reserve a phone line, NOT to allow participation.
To register for the call participants need to:
- Go to http://www2.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/090909
- Fill in all required data
- Verify your time zone is displayed correctly the drop down box
- Click “Register”
You will be redirected to the “Thank you for registering” page and will receive a confirmation e-mail shortly thereafter. Note: Please print and save this page, in the event that your server blocks the confirmation e-mails.
A few days prior to the call, check the Educational Resources page on CMS’ 5010 Web page to obtain a copy of the presentation that will be used during the call. Participants will have an opportunity to ask CMS experts questions during a Q&A session following the presentation.
Registration will close at 2 p.m. ET on September 8 or when available space has been filled.
Share your ICD-10 questions, tips, and strategies
What is your organization doing to plan for the transition to ICD-10? Have you formed an ICD-10 implementation committee? Have coding staff members attended any recent educational sessions, such as the free Webinars the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) receently sponsored? If so, what feedback did they have to share? What did they learn?
Aren’t you curious to hear what others are doing to tackle this transition?
We want to hear your story! We want to share your questions about ICD-10 as well as your strategies for making the transition as seamless as possible. Submit your comment and learn from others in the industry.
Transaction standard 5010’s vital role in switch to ICD-10: Check out new CMS Web site
Although the health care community is primarily focusing on the implementation to ICD-10 in 2013, a critical step before the new coding system takes effect is the switch to transaction standard version 5010. On July 17, CMS launched a Web site that includes information about HIPAA transaction standard version 5010, which providers must implement by January 1, 2012.
The new CMS Web site also includes information related to:
- Version D.0: The new version of the National Council for Prescription Drug Program (NCPDP) standards for pharmacy and supplier transactions
- Version 3.0: A new NCPDP standard for Medicaid pharmacy subrogation
It also includes a link to an FAQ that addresses many common questions related to the new 5010 transaction standard.
On June 9, CMS hosted a national education conference call for Medicare fee-for-service providers titled, “HIPAA Version 5010 – What you need to know!” that addressed Medicare’s implementation of the new standard. The transition to HIPAA 5010 is a necessary prelude to the implementation of ICD-10 in 2013.
Access a recent JustCoding news brief to learn more about Transmittal 495 in the One-Time Notification Manual, which addresses requirements and deadlines for 5010 implementation.
What steps have you taken to address the move to transaction standard 5010?
One ICD-10 myth debunked: Will coding books become a thing of the past?
CMS recently posted a very good document titled ICD-10-CM/PCS Myths & Facts , which clarified many myths regarding ICD-10 and specified facts upon which you should base your plan for implementation. For example, take the following myth and the corresponding fact:
Myth: There will be no hard copy ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS code books. When ICD-10-CM/PCS is implemented, all coding will need to be performed electronically.
Fact: ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS code books are already available and are a manageable size (one publisher’s book is two inches thick). The use of ICD-10-CM/PCS is not predicated on the use of electronic hardware and software.
I personally was told by a representative of a prominent encoder vendor that coders would have to go “all electronic” and that having code books would not be practical due to the sheer size of the volumes (I am picturing something like a volume of Oxford dictionaries). I was devastated because I never liked coding using an encoder, and I wondered how I would adapt to actually coding from an encoder alone, something I had been told all my career cannot be done (You must have the code books to verify your code choice and not rely on an encoder alone, and you must initially learn a code set using the books before going to the encoder).
I found out that this rumor of having to code using only electronic means versus code books was not true when earlier this year I was searching the American Health Information Management Association library, and I noted that a vendor was offering manuals for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS. I was shocked. I still wondered about the size of the coding books though, and I was quite amused when one coder asked whether we would have to start lifting weights to get in shape just to be able to haul these huge ICD-10 coding books.
Judging by the size of the 2009 files, which I had downloaded to my desktop for handy reference for daily coding, I figured that the books would probably be a little bigger, but not that much bigger. However, I was not completely certain of this until I read this document today. So read the CMS document, and put your mind at ease.
What other ICD-10 myths have you heard? Share your experiences so we can help put these myths and misconceptions to rest.
