AAPC along with the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), have worked together toward formation of the ICD-10 Implementation Success Initiative. The purpose of the initiative is to ensure successful ICD-10 implementation for all healthcare industry stakeholders, including healthcare providers, payers, clearinghouses, and vendors. It will serve as a hub to field questions regarding ICD-10, and develop a coordinated education effort regarding implementation.
This initiative is comprised of several different elements, including a public, searchable database of ICD-10 issues for submission. AAPC, WEDI, CMS, and additional partners will help to triage issues and provide valuable information and resources to support healthcare organizations in understanding how the new codes and coding standards will impact diagnosis and inpatient procedures.
Once issues have been submitted within the searchable database, that issue will be reviewed and made available online after it has been approved. If name and contact information is provided, WEDI will follow up directly. In addition to the database, a series of educational webinars and articles will be available as a resource to highlight prominent ICD-10 conversion issues and trends.
In a recent WEDI survey, roughly 80% of healthcare providers did not complete their business changes and begin testing before the start of 2014, while 20% of vendor respondents indicated they were halfway or less than halfway complete with product development in support of ICD-10.
As the industry vigorously prepares to meet the October 1 deadline, it’s vital to refer to this initiative to ensure painless and efficient ICD-10 implementation.
