Like bolts out of the blue, the US healthcare domain keeps witnessing lots of changes time and again. Like a coin with two sides, healthcare changes have their own pros and cons. Though these reforms are sure to benefit the lives of several uninsured and elderly US citizens, they have turned the medical billing and coding processes of healthcare facilities topsy-turvy. Most prominently, the ICD-10 implementation is expected to create an across-the-board change in US healthcare domain. Let's see what preparations are required for this transition,

Coding System Conversion: It is the first and the foremost factor that has to be considered by Providers and healthcare facilities. The medical billing and coding and charge capture processes will have to be changed to stay compliant with ICD-10. In addition, current EMR systems have to be upgraded, only then it can map the CMT (Common Medical Terminology) to the ICD-10 Common Classification System (CCS). Accomplishing these changes before the timeline of Oct 1st, 2014 is definitely a herculean task. It also affects the normal workflow. The best solution will be outsourcing medical billing and coding processes to a medical billing company.

Understanding the Transition: Healthcare Providers and Facilities must first understand the ICD-10 code set before sketching the ICD-10 training and implementation plan. Right from the medical terminology to internal procedures, the transition involves several changes. For instance, the ICD-9 offers limited space to add new codes, but the ICD-10 provides ample space for the same. While the former contained about 13,000 codes, ICD-10 is expected to have 68,000 codes approximately. One method of overcoming this challenge to healthcare Providers and Facilities is to outsource their medical insurance billing and coding while their medical coders spend time understanding the transition and getting the requisite training.

Training: Intense training is required to learn the various levels of ICD-10-CM/PCS. To stay aligned with medical coders, Providers must also undergo training sessions. A detailed role-based training plan has to be drafted to address the needs of employees in various departments. While this extensive training session takes place, medical coders and other billing staff will have a hard time focusing on their current medical billing and coding functions. For uninterrupted workflow, it is vital that healthcare providers and facilities outsource medical billing.

Now, you will know where you stand in the process of ICD-10 implementation. If you have not yet prepared for this transition, then now is the best time to start. But, before sending your billing staff to training in ICD-10, outsource your current medical billing and coding functions to a renowned medical billing company like MGSI.