ICD-10 underway

Today marks the start of using ICD-10 codes—a long anticipated change in the healthcare community. Physicians will have to use these new diagnostic codes in order to get properly reimbursed from CMS and private payers. Medicare claims with a date of service on or after October 1, 2015, will be rejected if they do not contain a valid ICD-10 code. According to CMS, the Medicare claims processing systems do not have the capability to accept ICD-9 codes for dates of service after September 30, 2015, or accept claims that contain both ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes for any dates of service.

Many physicians are worried that their billing systems will not file proper claims under the new codes, and claims will be rejected—resulting in delays to payments. CMS is trying to make the transition as smooth as possible, by offering tips, guidance, and videos on its website.

Source: CMS