Countdown To ICD-10

Compiled by Scott Westcott, Contributing Writer

After repeated delays, it now appears ICD-10 will become a reality Oct. 1. As the clock ticks, healthcare providers are focused on testing and preparing physicians and staff for the changes.

When it comes to ICD-10, healthcare providers couldn’t be blamed for adopting an “I’ll-believe-when-I-see-it” mindset. After all, the ICD-10 deadline has been delayed twice already, and some are suggesting we skip over ICD-10 and wait to implement ICD-11. That said, most in the industry think this time the deadline is for real. Bolstering that belief is the fact the House and Senate passed the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, which repeals the Sustainable Growth Rate Formula, but does not include any ICD-10 delays.