Amy Amick, President, MedAssets Revenue Cycle Management: As healthcare organizations enter the home stretch leading up to the ICD-10 deadline on Oct. 1, it’s time for a little contingency planning. With an additional 68,000 codes to contend with, a nearly five-fold increase compared to ICD-9, there are still many unanswered questions — not to mention fears. Hopefully, like Y2K, most are unfounded. However, given the current volatility of the industry, better to be safe than sorry. Here are just a few “what ifs” to consider as the deadline draws near:
• What if your technology can’t produce ICD-10 claims, or does so incorrectly?
• What if rejections occur unexpectedly?
• What if payers don’t calculate payments appropriately?
• What if denials skyrocket?
• What if delays severely impact cash flow?
Brainstorming “what ifs” not only helps you envision the future, it also lays the groundwork for a backup plan should the unexpected occur.
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ICD-10 & RCML: 5 tips to prepare
RCM tip of the day: Establish a unified clearinghouse platform
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