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Have you established your implementation timeline?

In a recent JustCoding.com mini-poll, we asked subscribers the following question:

Has your organization established a timeline for the transition to ICD-10? This is the breakdown of the 151 responses:

• Yes: 8%
• We’re planning the timeline now: 23%
• No, but we feel like we have plenty of time: 52%
• No, and we feel like we’re falling behind: 17%

However, a July 31 article on HealthLeaders Media stated the following:

Industry experts have repeatedly said that ICD-10 implementation must begin immediately in order for hospitals, health plans, and vendors to meet the October 1, 2013 compliance deadline. But now there is detailed evidence to prove it.

On July 20, the North Carolina Healthcare Information and Communications Alliance, Inc., (NCHICA) and The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) released a timeline that quantifies each ICD-10 preparation task in terms of the number of days it will take to complete.

NCHICA and WEDI estimate it will take providers nearly 1,286 work days to implement ICD-10. For vendors, it will take nearly 1,521 work days to complete. And the clock is ticking.

Has your organization established a timeline for implementing ICD-10? Do you feel like you have plenty of time, or are you starting to feel like you’re falling behind?

Look for ICD-10 sessions that go beyond the basics

You might be far enough along in your ICD-10 implementation timeline to attend some informational sessions that go beyond the basics. “You’re going to see more companies advertising functional learning as opposed to theoretical sessions,” says Shannon E. McCall, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, director of coding and HIM at HCPro, Inc., in Marblehead, MA.

Just to provide some examples, I’ll highlight two that I recently came across:

• The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) will host a conference July 28-30 in Fairfax, VA, titled, “Advancing Along the Implementation Highway: The Road Map to Success” covering implementation of the HIPAA 5010 transaction sets and the ICD-10 code sets.

“This will not be a 101-level session on the 5010 transactions or the differences between ICD-9 and ICD-10,” according to WEDI. “Instead, come prepared to discuss and develop ‘working solutions’ to business impacts in sessions that invite your input.”

HIPAA 5010 sessions will cover a range of topics, including:

1. Transactions/implementation issues
2. How to influence senior executives to make 5010 a priority now
3. What Level I compliance means
4. Medicare EDI front-end changes
5. Development of test scenarios

ICD-10 sessions will cover a range of topics, including:

1. Crosswalks
2. Testing
3. The impact assessment process
4. Project team formation and structure
5. Clinical considerations

• The Massachusetts Health Data Consortium is hosting an information session in Waltham, MA, on June 23 titled, “Preparing for ICD-10 Implementation, ” during which two CMS regional representatives will offer their thoughts on how ICD-10 will affect Massachusetts healthcare organizations. What are the implications of ICD-10 for your organization? How will it affect patient care, office efficiency, and healthcare organization revenue?

Look for similar sessions in your area. Check with local, regional, and national associations.