Dive Brief:
- A new report from the Government Accountability Office says CMS is prepared for the transition to ICD-10 codes on October 1 of this year and that preparations for healthcare organizations are on track.
- The GAO reports that CMS has modified its Medicare systems and policies, and has supported the readiness of outside entities through educational materials and outreach. The report adds that all Medicaid agencies say they will be prepared to do all the activities identified by CMS as "critical" by the October deadline.
- A federal subcommittee that has been working with CMS is set to gauge the readiness of healthcare providers this week. The Energy & Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health has scheduled the public forum for 10:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 11.
Dive Insight:
While the report was positive, it doesn't mean there isn't work to be done. Auditors said that "in many states, work remains to complete testing by the transition deadline."
In addition, the GAO reports that stakeholder organizations have reported concerns about the ICD-10 transition and have made recommendations that CMS has worked to address—for example, that CMS's testing has not been comprehensive. In response to this particular concern, CMS officials have scheduled end-to-end testing with 2,550 organizations to take place in January, April and July.
In any event, it doesn't look like providers should anticipate another last-minute delay. For any organizations with questions or concerns, now is the time to get them addressed.