How ICD-10 Affects You
The first step in approaching the ICD-10 transition is to understand its enormous scope and importance. The new, more granular code set is perhaps one of the largest transformations the industry will experience. The intended benefits of using ICD-10 codes include: an increased ability to track and trend diseases, more accurate coding, medical billing codes that reflect recent advances in technology, and support of innovative payment designs.
Regardless of whether these benefits are realized, if you are a provider, practice manager or support staff member, you'll be affected. Here are some specific responsibilities you can expect to undertake:
Providers & Clinicians
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- Capture patient problems using ICD-10 codes
- Associate ICD-10 codes with every order (labs, prescriptions, etc.)
- Choose each ICD-10 code that corresponds to diagnosis described in the encounter's assessment and plan
- Perform disease tracking and population management with ICD-10 codes
- Capture ICD-10 codes on encounter forms (if your current encounter forms include ICD-9 codes)
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Managers &
Staff
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- Obtain a deeper knowledge of anatomy and physiology that mirrors the granularity of ICD-10 codes
- Run financial, clinical and operational reports using the ICD-10 code set
- Enter ICD-10 codes for all charges associated with a patient's visit
- Re-negotiate payer reimbursement rates using ICD-10 codes if current contracts include ICD-9 codes
- Make sure all patient referrals to physician practices, hospitals and other facilities are based on ICD-10 codes
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