Two Weeks Into IDC-10, Uncertainty Remains
A quick Internet search will yield plenty of updated news after the latest rollout of IDC-10, most of it positive. However, despite the mostly optimistic headlines, there is a modicum of uncertainty that remains.
The system is still too new for many health care professionals to have a strong opinion one way or another, but future looking, it’s hard to say how the long-term effects will impact billing and collections.
“Depending on how prepared the organization or facility is, they could see different issues,” says Melanie Endicott, senior director of HIM practice excellence at the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), according to HealthLeaders Media. “There are facilities out there that have been doing dual coding for a year or six months or longer. They’ve had lots of practice, and will be able to jump right in.”
For those unfamiliar with IDC-10, it is the “the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD), a medical classification list…”
The biggest concern in the health care industry is delays in claims and processing due to improper coding, but the overall benefit of IDC-10 is the ability to better track diseases, measure care, and evaluate patients overall.
Some of the more common complaints in these earlier stages deal with time constraints and system updates. Some have complained of longer wait times with insurance companies, technical difficulties, and wondering when payments will be dispersed. Others have complained of the added time to find the right code when caring for patients, citing that time to code properly has taken time away from those who need care.
Some facilities are still facing the challenges of training staff and bringing everyone up to speed on the newest codes, but that is why compliance programs exist, like those through OSHA.
MedXWaste offers OSHA Compliance Programs to help with the current changes in the medical industry. Our OSHA Compliance Program can help medical facilities with the ongoing transition to ICD-10, thereby reducing rejected claims and giving more time where time is needed: to focus on patients and taking care of communities.
The latest transition to ICD-10 has not been without its challenges, but with the right training program in place, MedXWaste can assist you make a seamless transition.
