The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' decision to delay ICD-10 implementation will likely have a negative impact on health insurers, according to a Fierce Health Payer report.
HHS has not yet announced a new timeline, after changing the deadline from the previously established date of Oct. 1, 2013. According to the report, the process could become more difficult for insurers if HHS delays announcing the new timeline.
According the report, insurers have already spent millions of dollars on IT improvements related to ICD-10 implementation. According to America's Health Insurance Plans, the insurance industry may have spent up to $3 billion on ICD-10 at this point. Companies have also been working toward compliance — in many cases sacrificing time and energy that could have been spent on other health reform requirements.
While the industry waits for a new deadline, insurers must suspend conversions such as ICD-10 testing, which industry guidelines previously suggested should begin later this year.
Related Articles on Coding, Billing & Collections:
CMS Delays Version 5010 Again
AdvantEdge Healthcare Solutions Revenue Jumps 40% to $40M in 2011
Mississippi Plans Health Insurance Exchange While Fighting Federal Reform Law
HHS has not yet announced a new timeline, after changing the deadline from the previously established date of Oct. 1, 2013. According to the report, the process could become more difficult for insurers if HHS delays announcing the new timeline.
According the report, insurers have already spent millions of dollars on IT improvements related to ICD-10 implementation. According to America's Health Insurance Plans, the insurance industry may have spent up to $3 billion on ICD-10 at this point. Companies have also been working toward compliance — in many cases sacrificing time and energy that could have been spent on other health reform requirements.
While the industry waits for a new deadline, insurers must suspend conversions such as ICD-10 testing, which industry guidelines previously suggested should begin later this year.
Related Articles on Coding, Billing & Collections:
CMS Delays Version 5010 Again
AdvantEdge Healthcare Solutions Revenue Jumps 40% to $40M in 2011
Mississippi Plans Health Insurance Exchange While Fighting Federal Reform Law