Most experts agree that after the ICD-10 implementation date of Oct. 1, 2013, even well-trained coders will take longer with the new coding system than they did with ICD-9, according to a blog post published by Tom Sullivan in ICD-10Watch.
Mr. Sullivan wrote that the real question is whether coders will ever regain the level of ICD-9 productivity with ICD-10. He believes the answer is no: The American Academy of Professional Coders, for example, has said that productivity will not return to normal upon implementation as providers assess how payors interpret the new system.
Canadian coding experts have added that productivity in Canada, which has already adopted ICD-10, never returned to ICD-9 levels after implementation. Mr. Sullivan said there may be no way to regain productivity given the extra time it takes to use more codes and more digits.
Read the ICD-10Watch blog post on coder productivity.
Read more on coding:
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Mr. Sullivan wrote that the real question is whether coders will ever regain the level of ICD-9 productivity with ICD-10. He believes the answer is no: The American Academy of Professional Coders, for example, has said that productivity will not return to normal upon implementation as providers assess how payors interpret the new system.
Canadian coding experts have added that productivity in Canada, which has already adopted ICD-10, never returned to ICD-9 levels after implementation. Mr. Sullivan said there may be no way to regain productivity given the extra time it takes to use more codes and more digits.
Read the ICD-10Watch blog post on coder productivity.
Read more on coding:
-Aerospace Workers May Pursue Billing and Coding When Space Shuttle Program Ends
-Modifier 33 "Most Noteworthy" Change in CMS' Outpatient Code Editor