ICD-10: The Saga Begins
by Thomas Jorno
So, the changeover to ICD-10 got delayed from October 1, 2014 to October 1, 2015. And perhaps many of you are thinking, “Phew! That thing really sneaked up on us; thank goodness they’ve given us extra time.”
It may be tempting to take comfort in the grace period you’ve been given. But if you stop to think about it, you’re better off getting your practice up to speed now, so you don’t have to worry about it down the line.
And here’s the funny thing: ICD-10 didn’t sneak up on anybody. Truth is, the switch-over was originally scheduled for October 1, 2013 — a date that has since passed. Where would you be if that initial deadline hadn’t been delayed? Would you have been ready on time? If you aren’t sure of your answer, then you probably still aren’t set up for ICD-10″¦ and why would you want to continue to linger in doubt? Now is the time for action, with the key benefit of time that can be better spent on building your practice.
But wait, there’s more: How long do you think this ICD-10 changeover has been in the works? It wasn’t a sudden move. It may surprise you to know that the process actually began more than 30 years ago — and is based on a classification system developed by French physician Jacques Bertillon nearly a century before that.
Why should providers prepare for ICD-10 in spite of the delay?
Simply knowing when the coding changes will happen won’t help to prevent the damages it can cause if a provider isn’t prepared. ICD-10 has been in the making for over 30 years. We need to use the remaining time to get a working process in place.
Totally agree, it’s always better be safe than sorry!
It’s a simple matter of “Why put off until tomorrow what you can accomplish today?” The tools to get your practice ready for the ICD-10 changeover are already available — and come October 2015, there’s bound to be a panic (similar to the Y2K panic about 15 years ago). Why on earth would you want to get caught up in that?!
I say keep preparing and learning about ICD-10 while you have time to build in a little procrastination. Prepare as if the deadline was still this Fall so you can relax next year, while everyone else is in a panic. Also, subscribe to the email updates on this website to stay informed.
The change is coming no matter what. The sooner you start planning for ICD-10, the sooner you’ll find the resources to transition smoothly into the change.NOW is the time to ensure a successful transition!