CMS Announces Official ICD-10 Implementation Date

Precyse urges providers to shift focus back to this important initiative
Wayne, PA and Alpharetta, GA Aug 13, 2014 — On July 31, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) posted a final rule in the Federal Register announcing, as expected, that the ICD-10 implementation date will be October 1, 2015.
Providers have been in a state of flux since the announcement of the delay of the October 2014 deadline in April. Naturally, the delay caused lulls in momentum and, resources originally slated for
ICD-10 readiness were reallocated to competing priorities. Now that the final date has been published it is pertinent that providers reinitiate ICD-10 activities or run the risk of not being ready in time for the deadline.
The key to ICD-10 readiness is improved documentation skills, even minor changes such as more specificity in notes create obvious financial and non-financial benefits: fewer claims denials,
reduced audit exposure, improved case mix index and improved cash flows. Most importantly, patient care is improved when downstream clinicians can review and rely upon more complete chart notes, and better data is available for clinical decision making, analytics and comparative studies. Better documentation is achieved through education and training programs for physicians and other
caregivers. This includes developing processes, guidance and support for improved clinical documentation under ICD-9 to be better prepared for ICD-10.
Precyse has not stopped preparing for the implementation of the new coding rules and stands ready to support and meet the needs of providers, including our nearly 5,000 clients, many of whom already rely on our management, staffing and technology solutions, through our training and implementation process.
“While preparing for ICD-10 has been a long and challenging process for providers, a successful ICD-10 transition will lead to future benefits,” said Chris Powell, CEO, Precyse. “Staff education, clinical documentation improvement processes and process improvement efforts that support a successful transition to ICD-10 will also give providers a stronger foundation for other strategic initiatives embarked upon under the Affordable Care Act.”