APMA News - October 2011 - (Page 13)

ICD-10 Benchmarks and Timeline By Paul Kinberg, DPM; David Freedman, DPM; and Harry Goldsmith, DPM I n last year’s October issue, APMA’s Coding Committee ICD-10 Team published an introductory article about ICD-10-CM. Included in the article was a recommended timeline for practitioners preparing for the October 1, 2013, implementation date for ICD-10-CM. So the big question is, with only two years to go, how are your preparations coming along? By now, you should have had preliminary discussions with your accounts receivable/billing software provider and clearinghouse to be sure they are testing the required 5010 CMS 1500 format that will be able to handle ICD-10-CM changes. You also should have developed a budget for all the updates your office will require to implement ICD-10, as well as projected budgets for IT needs and physician and staff training. To stay ahead of the curve, and to appreciate the coding differences between ICD-9 and ICD-10, you should download a free copy of 2011 ICD-10-CM and General Equivalency Mapping (GEM) from the CMS website at https://www. c m s.gov/ ICD10/11b1_ 2011_ ICD10CM_ and _ GEMs. asp#TopOfPage. It is still a little early to purchase the ICD-10-CM book for your office (you can review the current online version for free) because CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continue to make significant coding changes. However, because the impact on your practice will be profound, and because the learning curve will be so steep, APMA encourages you and your key staff to review the material sooner rather than later. Once you download the ICD-10-CM and GEMs from the CMS website, distribute them to staff for review of the introduction. It includes many instructions, guidelines, examples, and definitions found in ICD-9-CM, in addition to some new guidelines and specific differences between ICD-9 and ICD10. Reading the introduction may refresh your memory on many coding requirements related to diagnoses, conditions, and circumstances. Starting early in the ICD-10 conversion process may help you apply valuable information that is relevant to daily use of ICD-9. As you can see from our cover story about coding the fifth metatarsal fracture, the APMA Coding Committee and ICD-10 Team feel that, at least initially, learning by example is one of the quickest ways to appreciate what is in store for you with ICD-10. Over the next two years, the ICD-10 Team will publish various charting and coding examples commonly found in podiatric medical practices. The examples will be peppered with ICD-9-CM-, ICD-10-CM-, and CPTrelated coding. These examples will make it obvious that your future medical record documentation will have to be much more specific than in the past. Your ICD-10-CM coding will also have to be much more specific with repetitions A s you can see from our cover story about coding the fifth metatarsal fracture, the APMA Coding Committee and ICD-10 Team feel that, at least initially, learning by example is one of the quickest ways to appreciate what is in store for you with ICD-10. of some combination codes. An example is the E11 codes that include both Type 2 diabetes mellitus and associated diabetic complications. The ICD-10 Team recommends both you and your office staff review the examples APMA will provide. Take a critical look at your medical records in an effort to evaluate their current quality, specificity, clarity, and accuracy. Develop a list of recommended changes or improvements, as needed, for better documentation. In the near future, the APMA Coding Committee will begin hosting ICD-10 webinars, workshops, and seminars. We also will produce handout materials we hope will make the conversion process somewhat easier for your office. Start with the preliminaries now to ensure you are prepared for what will no doubt be a challenging transition. n APMA News October 2011 13 https://www.cms.gov/ICD10/11b1_2011_ICD10CM_and_GEMs.asp#TopOfPage https://www.cms.gov/ICD10/11b1_2011_ICD10CM_and_GEMs.asp#TopOfPage

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of APMA News - October 2011

APMA News - October 2011
President’s Message
Contents
ICD-10 in Practice: Coding for Fifth Metatarsal Injury
ICD-10 Benchmarks and Timeline
Team APMA Runs Away with the Show
Medical Mission to Costa Rica: Identifying Fungal Infections of the Foot
Federal Advocacy Forum
Resolutions Submissions
IT Consultant
Can They Really Do That?
Reimbursement
Members Who Know Media
Technofile
Young Voices
Small Business 101
APMAPAC Chair Report
APMA All Stars
In Short
Worthy of Note
Affiliates Corner
List of Affiliated Organizations
Insurance Advisor
New Members
Death Notices
Annual Scientific Meeting Registration Form
Annual Scientific Meeting Sponsors
APMAPAC Update
Development Update
Classified Advertising
Dates to Remember
Advertising Index
10 Questions

APMA News - October 2011