Get tips for addressing top ICD-10 concerns and planning for a smooth ICD-10 implementation.

1. Addressing ICD-10
Implementation Challenges

2. Challenge: Expense

3. • AMA estimates cost for 3-MD
practice = $83,290
• You can’t budget for your
organization until you understand
what it will involve:
• Conduct an impact assessment
• Budget time and resources
accordingly

4. Impact Analysis
• What systems / workflows does
ICD-9 touch today?
• Who needs training?
• Coders, billers, physicians
• How will EHR adoption impact
practice mgmt., billing, coding,
reporting, etc.?

5. • Budgeting may require you to
make educated guesses on
expenses that cannot be
calculated
• Ex: Diminished productivity for
coders and providers during the
transition

6. Challenge: Vendor
Readiness

7. • Ask vendors about their ICD-10
prep and anticipated timelines.
• Not confident your EHR vendor
will smoothly transition your
system to ICD-10?
• Consider switching to an EHR
partner that is committed to
ensuring your success.

8. Challenge: Productivity
Impact

9. • BCBS Association estimates coding
errors will increase 10-25% in 1st
year of transition
• Improving clinical documentation
is one of the best ways to prepare
for the transition’s impact on
productivity of physicians and
coders.

10. • More codes means more
documentation
• Documentation Considerations
• Linking relevant conditions
• Initial Encounter → 7th
Character Extension “A” for
Patient under Active Treatment

11. • Documentation Considerations
• Subsequent Encounter → 7th
Character Extension “D” for
Routine Injury Care during Healing
/ Recovery
• Sequela → 7th Character Extension
“S” for Complications / Conditions
resulting from an injury (E.g., Scar
resulting from a burn)

12. • Clinical Documentation Assessments
• Do random samples support ICD-
10 coding?
• Implement Documentation
Improvement Strategies
• Train → reassess → train again
• Appoint an ICD-10 Implementation/
Documentation Champion

13. Challenge: Cash Flow
Impact

14. • The ICD-10 transition is likely to
cause disruptions in cash flow for
a number of reasons.
• Clean claims may take longer to
be submitted due to
productivity declines.
• Denials may spike due to
mapping or coding errors.

15. • Take steps to protect cash flow
during the transition:
• Budget for additional cash
reserves
• Ask major payers about their
readiness to process claims
coded in ICD-10

16. • Take steps to protect cash flow
during the transition:
• Improve clinical documentation
to minimize denials
• Plan your strategy to manage
denials before, during & after
ICD-10 implementation

17. Challenge: Testing

18. • Plan to conduct testing using the
ICD-10 codes as a critical step in
preparing your organization for
the ICD-10 transition.
• Internal testing
• External testing

19. Want to learn more
about ICD-10?
Watch a free recorded
webinar at
successehs.com/archived-
webinars.

20. Need a health IT partner
to help you achieve
success with ICD-10, Meaningful
Use & more?
SuccessEHS can help.
Visit www.successehs.com
to request a demo.