If you are not too keen to know about how the ICD-9 codes in "Add two more ICD-9
weapons to your diagnostic test arsenal" crosswalk to ICD-10, may be you should be.
The transition deadline for ICD-10 codes is October 1, 2013. And that's really the drop-dead date for those of you that have made themselves familiar with the Final Rule pertaining to ICD-10 codes. However, there are a lot of things that must take place before then. And you may expect many of the payers to even need ICD-10 codes prior to that so that a sufficient amount of testing can take place.
So if you are thinking about choosing vendors, it's time to speak up. Today is not too soon to start thinking about ICD-10 codes. The more familiar you are with the changes, the easier your transition will be.
You should educate yourself and understand early so that you will be well equipped. Begin by speaking to your physicians about improving their clinical documentation detail which'll be the most important aspect for them and should be started before the change.
Medical coders should also be involved when practices communicate with "information system vendors (for EMR claims processing and the like) about their plans for the new code set implementation.
They should also sign up for one-stop medical coding websites where you'll go to and get all possible information pertaining to ICD-10 codes. What's more, such a website will provide you with just the right tool to make an easy transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10.