ICD-10-Three Weeks into the Implementation

ICD-10

Three Weeks into the Implementation

Insurance carriers have begun to report the early results of ICD-10 implementation and so far things look much better than expected.

Medical providers have now been submitting the updated codes for almost a month and the results are promising. In a recent HFMA presentation Florida BC/BS indicated that it (and many other carriers as well) was accepting minor coding errors and paying claims. BC/BS gives the provider the corrective measures needed and with this immediate feedback the provider can make the changes needed to properly execute the ICD-10 usage going forward. Additionally CMS has directed its claims processing personnel to accept both “9” and “10” codes for a specific time period as national implementation progresses.

Insurance carriers are providing flexibility and forgiveness, extending time periods and accepting reasonable errors (errors that reflect compliance with “9” submissions). Corrective measures are provided by the carriers thus generating specific changes required for future submission. With the process now under way, time will tell ultimately how ready the industry was for this long awaited enhancement.