The run-up to October 1, 2015, had led many medical practitioners to predict that with the integration of the ICD-10 coding system, the denials rates would increase two-fold and the accounts receivable cycles would lengthen to an estimated extra 40 percent than what they were at present.
A recent survey conducted by KPMG, a New York-based advisory firm, stated that at least 80 percent of healthcare organizations have been able to seamlessly make the coding transition from ICD-09 to ICD-10. But, the percentage of denial claims is yet to be ascertained, as feedback is slowly being collated against this background.
The Healthcare Information and Management System Society has recently stated in their publication that, the claim error rates could be expected to climb up and reach as high as 6-10 percent of all claims. This could cause disruption in cash flow and revenue shortfalls for providers. Added to this, a study by the University of Illinois Cancer Center cited that billing costs could be affected to the tune of roughly 5 percent as a result of a loss of clinical information because of the ICD-10 coding issues, which is often the operating margin which most healthcare providers work with.
So the real underlying issue to understand if ICD-10 will lead to an increase in denials in 2016, is whether or not health providers have been prepared over the last two years, since the ICD-10 delay of 2013? The major players in the medical billing practices have been quite proactive. At a very superficial glance, based on certain basics is easy to say how the transition of ICD-10 and its claims will pan out.
For those who may see the maximum rejection of their claim denials in the following year 2016:
- Specialists and sub-specialists, and the encounters that need to be coded and the finer details of laterality, and changes in the way modifiers are to be now integrated. The basic crossover codes are easy to map. But it’s those out of the box situations that could cause disruptions
- Smaller healthcare practitioners who do not have the administrative structure in places like EHR and ICD-10 coding software can integrate seamlessly. Many insurance vendors and even CMS is now demanding the compliance of EHR systems and Meaningful Use
- Hospitals whose front desk office bearers have not yet been trained in the simple process of verification and eligibility of patient’s insurance coverage. The Affordable Care Act(ACA), popularly known as Obamacare, has mandated that every citizen should be health insured. But high deductibles and copays, especially the aging section, and if awareness and knowledge of procedures not covered is essential for verification
- Those healthcare providers who have not aligned themselves yet to providing better documentation to the in-house or outsourced billers. This will cause more physician involvement in the appeals process to demonstrate why a procedure was a medical necessity
However, the healthcare providers least affected by claim denials, if they have in place:
- A stable and upgraded EHR and whose ICD-10 software conversion system has been seamlessly integrated
- Have in place prepared their cross-over menu codes, laterality codes, and modifier usage awareness
- Documentation is now aligned and medical billers – in-house or outsourced, have been well trained to handle and understand the encounters of their specific practices
- Staff have been trained to handle the front desk inquiries, verification, and eligibility insurance coverage process
- A special “denial process professional” has been appointed to handle this period of the transition claims process
But it needs to be cautioned here that either way, prepared or not, administrative operation expenses will see a rise due to added infrastructure in terms of hardware and software, even if the medical coding and billing is outsourced. Moreover, to avoid physician involvement in the denial claims process, given the value-based performance payment now being put in place, a “denial claims” expert may need to be brought in.
FAQs
1. Will the ICD-10 transition cause more claim denials?
The ICD-10 transition may increase claim errors, leading to higher denial rates and longer accounts receivable cycles, but most providers have managed the switch smoothly.
2. Which healthcare providers are most vulnerable to claim denials after ICD-10?
Specialists, smaller practices without advanced systems, and hospitals lacking trained front desk staff are most likely to experience higher claim rejections.
3. How can providers reduce the risk of ICD-10 claim denials?
Providers should ensure proper training for staff, upgrade EHR systems, and align documentation with ICD-10 codes to prevent disruptions and denials.
4. What impact will ICD-10 have on billing costs?
Billing costs could increase due to loss of clinical information and coding errors, potentially affecting the provider’s operating margin.
5. How can a “denial claims expert” help during the ICD-10 transition?
A denial claims expert can manage the complex claim denials process, preventing unnecessary physician involvement and ensuring smoother transitions during the ICD-10 implementation.
