Dive Brief:
- While providers who responded to a recent survey on ICD-10 are worried about the effect the coding switch will have on revenue, productivity and workflow, a growing minority say they are prepared.
- When the American Health Information Management Association and the eHealth Initiatives surveyed 349 providers, 38% said they think revenue will decrease in year following the switch from ICD-9, while only 6% said they think revenue will increase.
- Despite these concerns, 40% of respondents say they will be prepared to do end-to-end testing by the end of this year.
Dive Insight:
In most cases, having only 40% of providers feel comfortable with a major change in medical practice doesn't bode well for that change. But researchers with CMS seem very happy with the results, which are certainly a step up from the gloom and doom of previous years. Sensibly, CMS is now trying to capture the best practices of providers who are ready to proceed with the switchover and share them with those who are still struggling. Despite the improvement in morale, it's important not to forget that 38% of providers think the ICD-10 switch will cause them to lose money next year. If CMS can export practices from prepared providers to those who fear a financial loss, it could significantly smooth the transition.
After a delay announced in April, the ICD-10 changeover is set for October 1, 2015.