The impending Oct. 1 deadline has many healthcare professionals worried about potential billing errors as well as the threat of care of consistency. However, ICD-10 is an essential transition for the healthcare industry and should be embraced rather than feared, according to The Hill.
Here are six notes:
1. ICD-10 is necessary for the sustainability of small and rural practices as well as continued access to care for patients.
2. Representative Diane Black champions the "Increasing Clarity for Doctors by Transitioning Effectively Now" legislation, which addresses common systematic concerns.
3. The legislation proposes an 18-month "safe harbor" period, in which sub-code errors would not be the basis for claims rejection.
4. The 18-month period would allow providers to become adjusted to the new codes, with the number of codes set to quadruple in the ICD-10 update.
5. The ICD-TEN Act does not guarantee blanket immunity for any errors, but protects physicians from billing errors in sub-codes. These codes are used mainly for disease tracking and treatment rather than payment purposes.
6. Providers must ensure the payment codes are correct to receive payment and ultimately protect the system from fraud or abuse.
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