ICD 10 Coding Alert

Plus: Medicaid contractors are working to meet ICD-10 deadline.

As of publication date, CMS has not instituted any delay or elimination of ICD-10, which means you'll need to be ready to use the new code set by Oct. 1, 2013 " less than two years away. Fortunately, medical practices aren't the only ones working hard to meet the deadline. Contractors, vendors, and individual states are steadily readying their systems for ICD-10 claims processing.

Medicaid: Because Medicaid rules and policies vary on a state-by-state basis, some practices may be expecting states to be on different pages when it comes to ICD-10 implementation. But that would be an inaccurate assumption, CMS reps said during a Nov. 17 "ICD-10 Implementation" call.

"I can tell you that most states are still conducting impact analyses and gathering business requirements for the things needed to accommodate the implementation of ICD-10," said CMS's Elizabeth Reed during the call. "CMS currently conducts bi-weekly calls with the states and is currently offering state-specific technical assistance training. I would encourage providers to get on their respective state list serves to stay in tune with state communications and testing requirements," she added.

Procedure coding: Fortunately, Part B coders won't have to worry about using the procedural codes, known as ICD-10-PCS, because this code set will only be used for inpatient hospital claims, said CMS's Pat Brooks during the call.

"ICD-10-PCS will not be used on physician claims, even those for inpatient visits," Brooks told the callers. In addition, ICD-10 implementation has "no impact on CPT® or HCPCS coding -- they will continue to be used as they are now."

Coverage decisions: One caller to the forum asked whether CMS is working on converting diagnosis codes on the national coverage decisions (NCDs), which are currently listed in ICD-9 format, to ICD-10 codes. Brooks assured the caller that CMS reps are working on such a conversion, but no updates exist on how far along the conversion is at this point.

For more on ICD-10 implementation, visit the CMS Web site at www.cms.gov/ICD10/.