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What Locum Tenens Providers Should Know about ICD-10

Doctor filling out paperwork

Doctor filling out paperwork

The October 1 deadline for hospitals, private practices, and various other clinical settings to switch all medical coding systems from the old International Classifications of Diseases (ICD) system to the latest version, ICD-10, is quickly approaching.

Even though the directive for this conversion was issued in 2009, as of early this summer, a significant percentage of providers had not yet completed the transition.

According to a survey by the American Health Information Management Association and eHealth Initiative, as reported by iHealthBeat, only 34 percent of providers have completed internal testing and less than 20 percent have finished external testing. Additionally, two-thirds of respondents said they were still in the midst of updating their coding programs.

As a locum tenens provider, you may be assigned to facilities in varying stages of ICD-10 compliance up until that deadline. Regardless of whether a hospital has completed the conversion or a small private practice is still going through the process, it’s your responsibility to be able to step in and adapt.

To make sure you’re armed with the latest information, we’ve answered some of the key questions surrounding ICD-10.

What is ICD-10?

In a letter posted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website in July, acting administrator Andrew M. Slavitt defines the International Classifications of Diseases as a standardized coding system for medical conditions, diagnoses, and institutional procedures. He further says that, for the past 35-plus years, American physicians and healthcare providers have been using the ninth version of this system (ICD-9). Meanwhile, more than two dozen countries have upgraded to ICD-10.

“The current code set, ICD-9, contains outdated, obsolete terms that are inconsistent with current medical practice,” Slavitt wrote.

Proponents assert the newer version employs more current terminology as well as more distinguishing details, such as identifying right versus left as well as initial or subsequent encounter.

What will happen after the deadline?

Starting October 1, 2015, Medicare will no longer accept ICD-9 coding or a combination of ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding. Instead, to qualify for Medicare reimbursement, all coding must be entered through ICD-10.

However, Modern Healthcare reported in July that CMS announced it will not withhold reimbursements under the Medicare Part B physician fee schedule for incidents in which claims were erroneously coded as long as the code falls within the appropriate family classification. This allowance will remain in effect for 12 months.

What help is available for physicians, practices, and facilities to get up to speed on ICD-10?

To get providers up and running as quickly as possible before the deadline, both the CMS and the American Medical Association (AMA) established several educational efforts. Together, the organizations are offering webinars, on-site training, and instructional articles.

Additionally, CMS created an ICD-10 Ombudsman to answer questions and a “Road to 10” website, which features primers for clinical documentation and specialty-specific resources, among other advice pertinent to implementation. The website also lists dates and locations for in-person training sessions.

The AMA Wire also offers an online library of articles and tips to empower providers in meeting the impending deadline.

Of course, a locum tenens professional’s primary responsibility always will be to put patients first and provide facilities with top-quality service. Included in that, however, is staying abreast of changes in healthcare and knowing how those changes will impact patients and/or practice settings. So, keep checking in with our Red Ribbon Blog for updates on ICD-10 and other news and topics related to the locum tenens career alternative.

About the author

Anne Baye Ericksen

Anne Baye Ericksen is a journalist and locum tenens subject-matter expert with more than two decades of experience. She was a regular contributor to LocumLife, Healthcare Traveler and Healthcare Staffing and Management Solutions magazines.

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