Is your practice prepared for ICD-9 to ICD-10 Transition?

Be Proactive in your planning for ICD-10.
Here's the steps to take to be prepared.

The ICD-10 transition takes planning, preparation, and time, so medical practices should continue working toward compliance. The following quick checklist will assist you with preliminary planning steps.

• Identify your current systems and work processes that use ICD-9 codes.
• Talk with your practice management system vendor about accommodations for ICD-10 codes.
• Confirm with your vendor that your system has been upgraded to Version 5010 standards, which have been required since January 1, 2012.
• Contact your vendor and ask what updates they are planning to make to your practice management system for ICD-10, and when they expect to have it ready to install.
• Check your contract to see if upgrades are included as part of your agreement.
• If you are in the process of making a practice management or related system purchase, ask if it is ICD-10 ready.

• Discuss implementation plans with all your clearinghouses, billing services, and payers to ensure a smooth transition.
• Talk with your payers about how ICD-10 implementation might affect your contracts.
• Identify potential changes to work flow and business processes.
• Assess staff training needs. Identify the staff in your office who code, or have a need to know the new codes.
• Budget for time and costs related to ICD-10 implementation, including expenses for system changes, resource materials, and training.
• Conduct test transactions using ICD-10 codes with your payers and clearinghouses.