This post on ICD-10 preparation and implementation is offered by Manon Faucher, SOS’ Lead Support Tech.
“Is SOS ready for the implementation of the ICD-10 codes?”
SOS has received many calls and e-mails from our customers asking us this question. Actually we should be asking you, ‘Has your practice implemented a process for the adoption of the new ICD-10 codes?’ Have you researched and planned for training of your providers and staff? Once you have trained your staff who will be responsible for revising all your accounts and assigning the new ICD-10 codes? Will you have someone overseeing and reviewing the process to assure the proper codes are used? As you can see, most of the intensive labor will not be on SOS but will be on your practice.
There are many online documents that will provide transition planning guides, resources and training information. You need to start researching your options now. Various sites such as those offered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), American Psychological Association (APA), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) are great sources of information; and right now, information is your friend. The more you and the staff of your organization can learn about the ICD-10 codes related to the ICD-9 codes you currently use, the better prepared you will be.
It is important that you remember that there will NOT be a one-to-one code conversion utility or methodology to translate an ICD-9 code to an ICD-10 code. There are tools available to help you know which codes to use, but if you enter one ICD-9 code these tools will return multiple possible ICD-10 choices. Your clinicians must choose among the options…or provide enough information for your coding specialist to do so intelligently. SOS will NOT have a utility built into the system to convert the ICD-9 codes, but we will make it easy for you to link to your favorite crosswalk site to do look-up as you have the need.
To answer the question above, SOS has the ability to include both ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes in our next generation of software. On October 1st, 2014 the program will start including ICD-10 codes on your claims by default. If some insurance companies are not ready on October 2014 to receive the ICD-10 codes, you can set these insurance carriers to include ICD-9 instead. This can be done on a payer by payer basis.
As a note, ONLY the 5010 ANSI format will allow for the ICD-10 codes. If you are using any of SOS Electronic Claims Modules (this does NOT include the ‘Export CMS 1500 form for 3rd party products’), you do not need to worry. If you are using different Electronic Claim software you need to verify that by October 2014 they will have the ability to send in the 5010 ANSI format.
Has your organization begun preparations? What are you doing to get ready? Please share your experience in the Comments below.
