On October 1, 2013, the healthcare industry will transition from ICD-9 diagnosis codes to the ICD-10 system. The differences between the existing and upcoming coding systems are complex and large in scale.

At AmeriPath, we’ve been working diligently to ensure that, when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implement this change, our customers experience a seamless transition without disruption to the quality patient service and laboratory testing you’ve long trusted us to provide.

Accurate and complete ICD codes are important for proper claims processing

As a healthcare professional, you know that laboratories are required to submit accurate and complete diagnosis codes in electronic and paper claims to third party payers. Claims with insufficient diagnosis coding can trigger denials, requiring both the lab and the provider to invest labor and time to resolve and, very often, creating inconvenience for the patient.

Resources are available to help you prepare

Any healthcare organization required to use diagnosis coding should conduct a full impact assessment in preparation for the transition to ICD-10, as its effects will span well beyond billing or IT areas of your operation. We encourage our customers to develop and implement comprehensive plans and timelines for ICD-10 preparedness, so that when the change occurs on October 1, 2013, you can focus on what is most important, the health of your patients.

In preparation for the ICD-10 changes, information and guidance for the new diagnosis coding can be found in the links below.

To find additional information about ICD-10-CM/PCS, visit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

CMS Overview and Quick Reference Information

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ICD10
http://www.cms.gov/ICD10/Downloads/ICD-10QuickRefer.pdf

Additional links:

http://www.aapc.com/icd-10/icd-10-connect.aspx
http://www.ahima.org/icd10
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/solutions-managing-your-practice/coding-billing-insurance/hipaahealth-insurance-portability-accountability-act/transaction-code-set-standards/icd10-code-set.page
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd/icd10.htm
http://www.who.int/classifications/icd/en