The transition to using ICD-10 (Download free ICD-10 whitepaper) codes is the biggest challenge facing the physician practices this year. The number of diagnostic codes has increased from 14,000 to nearly 70,000 and the number of procedure codes will jump from 3,000 to 88,000. Handling this large shift in the codes is intimidating for the physicians but these hurdles can be overcome by following few strategies.



  1. Split out the frequently used codes
    Though there are thousands of codes, most practices will not use them all but only a small portion of those codes. Practices need to find the codes relevant to them and then they need to focus on them
  2. Use coding software that can assist
    With various software’s available in the market it becomes difficult to choose the best one. Technology exists that will scan the patient’s record and then find the relevant ICD-10 codes against it. Such kinds of software are highly complex and use different kinds of features in finding the appropriate ICD-10 codes.
  3. Use twin coding
    Although the insurers are only accepting the ICD-9 codes, it should not stop providers from using the ICD-10 codes in order to make themselves familiar with ICD-10 codes by introducing them into their work.
  4. Educate yourself and others
    Assign a leader in your practice that manages the ICD-10 transition issue and leads the process.
  5. Do thorough testing
    CMS has announced a couple of occasions when it will test the ICD-10 code submission between March 3 and 7. Furthermore it will conduct end to end testing of submission in summer. Practices need to take advantage of this opportunity.
  6. Don’t wait for further delays
    Regardless of the repeated calls from groups like American Medical Association many people knowing the issue believe that switch to ICD-10 will finally arrive on Oct.1 2014. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) had delayed the start dates on few occasions before but now has been saying that there be no delay.
EHRs