From the best concern that MBC has for all its members, we would like you to shine out bright in your offices by sharing information with your physician about the consequence of ICD-10 implementation at your doctor’s office. We also believe no matter how much change and learning we go through, it can’t be implemented without the decision maker’s willingness. In this update which assesses the importance of doctors’, we will cover:
-
What does ICD-10 and HIPAA 5010 mean to doctors vis-à-vis medical billing and coding?
-
What do doctors need to know about the quantum leap in the diagnostic and procedural coding?
-
How important it is for doctors to know the efficacy of implementing ICD-10 and HIPAA 5010 compliant technology interface?
-
And, more importantly, how crucial it is for doctors to narrate diagnostic and clinical procedures in a way that they compliment Medicalbillersandcoders endeavor of streamlined medical billing and coding?
From the best concern that MBC has for all its members, we would like you to shine out bright in your offices by sharing information with your physician about the consequence of ICD-10 implementation at your doctor’s office. We also believe no matter how much change and learning we go through, it can’t be implemented without the decision maker’s willingness. In this update which assesses the importance of doctors’, we will cover:
-
What does ICD-10 and HIPAA 5010 mean to doctors vis-à-vis medical billing and coding?
-
What do doctors need to know about the quantum leap in the diagnostic and procedural coding?
-
How important it is for doctors to know the efficacy of implementing ICD-10 and HIPAA 5010 compliant technology interface?
-
And, more importantly, how crucial it is for doctors to narrate diagnostic and clinical procedures in a way that they compliment Medicalbillersandcoders endeavor of streamlined medical billing and coding?
“What does ICD-10 mean for doctors- Create awareness for doctors in your clinic”
Need for ICD-10 awareness amongst doctors:
First, there is a feeling amongst doctors that ICD-10 is merely a coding issue, and they need not worry about it as long as their billers and coders are entrusted with the job. And, even if some doctors do realize the importance of their being party to the ICD-10 transition, they still think it is unnecessary to undergo any preparation in advance of the go-live date, October, 2013.
Even though it may be true that physicians do not have to actually learn to code, yet, under ICD-10, physicians will now have to document at a level of specificity not required in ICD-9. In the absence of thorough documentation of diseases, disease processes, accident details and external causes, coders will have no choice but to return records to the physician for clarifications.
If physicians are not equipped to revise their documentation of in line with the ICD-10 mandate beginning with Oct., 2013, it would eventually result in loss of productivity for physicians and coder as well as loss of revenue for the practice. Therefore, it is important that physicians know the importance of learning ICD-10 code sets for complimenting their billers and coders’ task of augmenting revenue generation through streamlined medical billing practices.
Conversely, you would do well in creating awareness for doctors in your clinic by letting your physicians participate in learning and understanding the concept of:
-
Correct application of CPT, HCPCS Level II procedure and supply codes, and ICD-CM diagnosis codes used for coding and billing for medical claims in a physician's office.
|
-
Correct application of CPT, HCPCS Level II procedure and supply codes, and ICD-CM diagnosis codes used for coding and billing in an outpatient hospital or facility.
|
-
Correct application of CPT, HCPCS Level II procedure and supply codes, and ICD-CM diagnosis codes used for coding and billing in specialty-specific facilities.
|
Further Physician’s can participate in ICD-10 …
-
With upgrading coding knowledge being the primary requirement, understanding and implementing technology interface in sync with ICD-10 and HIPAA 5010 is also as important. Billers can coders can make this task easier on their physicians by making them aware right away about how ICD-10 and HIPAA 5010 inherit radical technological demands which would require physicians to take up technology modernization, so they could adopt this at a gradual pace without disturbing their normal work schedule.
-
A recent survey on ICD-10 and its affect on staffing changes for coders depicted that nearly 60% of respondents anticipate some type of staffing change with:
-
53.6% - expect to hire more coders
-
23.2%- anticipate higher coder turnover
-
23.2%- anticipate other changes such as implementing more training programs
Hence Doctors are going to require to increase staffing and training and with coders informing the doctors of their training needs could make the ICD-10 implementation process worthwhile to both the doctors and coders.
Physicians at times may find these requirements impeding their clinical efficiency, yet the change is manageable with proper planning and phased out training process. As physicians try to upgrade themselves to the changing times, you as medical billers and coders can support them through this decision making.
A holistic team approach by doctors and coders will make ICD-10 possible and easier as each member of this team makes an effort by breaking the initiative down into smaller components such as:
-
Understanding HHS’ final rule,
-
Learning the required specificity,
-
Understanding the application of codes and
-
Developing an auditing and monitoring program
After all better documentation is only going to serve your purpose of efficient coding and more specificity on insurance claims, which will lead to fewer denials and manual reviews and faster reimbursements at lower costs.
Watch out for our next update: Opportunities created through ICD-10