Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Revolutionary operational changes needed for ICD-10 clinics


A lot of time has elapsed since the announcement and the subsequent delay of induction of ICD-10 codes. The stage is set for the transition of health care to a mammoth 70,000-code system. The challenge now lies with the providers who have to invest time to train their personnel in addition to manage incurred expenses. The EHR (Electronic Health Record) and billing systems need updating in accordance with the specified standards. The transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 will bring about a radical change in healthcare that will accommodate newly developed diagnoses and procedures, innovations in technology and treatment, performance-based payment systems, and more accurate billing requirements. ICD-10 ambulatory clinics are believed to have fully established themselves by now as October is looming.

Based on the new ICD norms, a complete overhaul of the technological inventory might be required ahead of this transition. All the devices, platforms, software, and tech assists, which were previously based on an ICD-9 construct, need to be remodeled according to the latest update. Now is not the time to get an insight over how the transition will affect your practice. ICD-10 has already been delayed, and the first of October is just a few months away. The simple fact is that changes have to be made, and in compliance with the standards.

In ICD-10, physicians would be required to populate detailed reports about the medical conditions and the procedures performed at various stages of treatment. Although, there are certain similarities with the former version, ICD-10 codes are a lot more specific and exhaustive. 

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