While the total implementation will be massive, Robert Tennant, senior policy adviser for the Medical Group Management Association encourages practices to hold off on spending money right now and opting for less expensive steps.
Here are eight low-cost ways to prepare for the implementation.
1. Create an action team of practice leadership and clinicians for peer-to-peer education.
2. Talk about ICD-10 at staff meetings to keep it in the forefront of everyone’s minds, and create a timeline for implementation.
3. Assess your internal systems and infrastructure. Figure out how your software programs will be impacted and which will require upgrades.
4. Review your practice’s documentation process. Find ways to avoid using unspecified codes and increase the accuracy of your process.
5. Consider how your superbill will be redesigned.
6. Determine who needs training and when it should take place.
7. Create a budget.
8. Expect that not everyone will be ready by the implementation date of October 2014. Prepare to have to use ICD-9 and ICD-10 simultaneously at first.
More Articles on Revenue:
Moody’s: Mergers Drive Big Boost of Hospital Upgrades in 3Q
For-Profit Hospital Stocks Mirror Obama’s Re-Election Chances
Republican Budget Plan Would Cut Medicaid by $1.7 Trillion
