Billers & Coders to Help with HIM Testing as the ICD-10 Final Date Draws Closer!
Practices are investing time and money in end-to-end testing of ICD-10 transactions but not much attention is being paid towards Health information management (HIM) testing. There is a strong need for healthcare providers to reassess their HIM strategies before the big switchover because changes brought by the new coding system and other reforms will prove challenging for their HIM plans.
Health information management has experienced transition from traditional managing practices (paper-based) to electronic management practices and now it is ready for yet another transition in the ICD-10 and HIPAA 5010 regime. Implementation of the new coding system and other periodic changes will create a huge gap between HIM and coders. Therefore, providers will require a skilled team of coders and billers who can cope with the changes, perform error-free coding and reduce the risks of digital data breaches.
Industry fact
| It has been estimated by the US Bureau of Labour Statistics that by 2015, the shortage of qualified HIM and technology workers will hit 50,000 |
| Between 2010 and 2020, job growth for health information technicians and medical records technicians is expected to increase by 21% as the aging population of the US will be using more healthcare services in the coming years |
Billers and coders can assist in HIM testing by
- Obtaining comprehensive knowledge of medical terminologies
- Ensuring high levels of accuracy and paying special attention to details when coding. HIM involves the maintenance and care of health records that are used by coders to convert information into alphanumeric codes. The data produced by them becomes an integral part of health information management
- Educating themselves in legal aspects of health information through on-the-job training or formal education
- Obtaining a Bachelor’s or advanced degree in HIM for better management of health records
- Understanding and troubleshooting the flow of work process as health information is captured, stored and transformed into coded data
- Enrolling (or getting enrolled by employers) in HIT/Clinical Coding Specialist Program
Small practices usually lack the capital to hire an HIM analyst and therefore, this task is handled by the in-house team of billers and coders. They are not only responsible for analyzing, managing and utilizing information required for patient care but also to ensure that the information is accessible to providers, when necessary.
Apart from ICD-10 preparation and conforming EHR platforms to ICD-10 and HIPAA-5010, coders ensure protection of patient’s privacy. They not only train employees in handling and usage of confidential data but also remain resourceful in testing, implementation and networking of technical interfaces.
Medicalbillersandcoders.com is the largest consortium of medical biller and coders in the US. We update our coders’ knowledge of ICD-10 transition and HIM techniques on a constant basis. MBC has a unique program based on ICD-10 transition and HIM testing, helping coders and billers learn more through forums, webinars and online learning materials. The aim is to make coding and billing simpler and beneficial for providers as well as biller and coders.
