Dive Brief:
- The first successful end-to-end test of ICD-10 coding scored more than eight out of 10 correctly, prompting outgoing CMS administrator Marilyn Tavenner to proclaim that "CMS is ready for ICD-10."
- Nearly 15,000 test claims were submitted by 661 volunteers, resulting in an 81% acceptance rate. The remaining 19% represented 3% which were rejected because of invalid submission of an ICD-9 diagnosis or procedure code; 3% which were rejected because of an invalid submission of an ICD-10 diagnosis or procedure code; and 13% which were rejected because of non-ICD-10 related errors, including issues setting up the test claims.
- "CMS is ready for ICD-10. And, thanks to our many partners—spanning providers, health plans, coders, clearinghouses, professional associations and vendor groups—the health care community at large will be ready for ICD-10 on October 1," Tavenner in a blog post.
Dive Insight:
Outgoing CMS chief Tavenner slipped a couple of subtle digs into what may be her final blog post in her capacity as administrator:
"The US is the last major industrialized nation to make the switch to ICD-10," Tavenner wrote. "The structure of ICD-9, which is more than 35 years old, limits the number of new codes that can be created, and many ICD-9 categories are full. ICD-10 provides room for code expansion, so providers can use codes more specific to patient diagnoses."
Tavenner seems to suggest that providers still complaining about meeting the ICD-10 deadline, which has already been delayed at great expense to larger systems, need to stop resisting and start getting serious about the new codes.
"As the ICD-10 deadline draws near, I especially encourage medical practices and hospitals that bill Medicare to take advantage of testing opportunities," Tavenner wrote. "Beyond testing, CMS has undertaken an unprecedented level of outreach, training, and education to prepare the healthcare community for ICD-10. Our website cms.gov/ICD-10, offers many resources, including the Road to 10 tool, designed especially for small medical practices."
To translate: If providers are concerned about the transition, they need to leverage the materials and resources CMS has provided, then run a test or ten. If they don't do that, there will be no excuse for protests when they're left behind later this year.