According to the CMS website, on October 1, 2014, the ICD-9 code sets used to report medical diagnoses and inpatient procedures will be replaced by ICD-10 code sets. The transition to ICD-10 is required for everyone covered by the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA).
ICD-10 will significantly expand the number of medical billing codes from approximately 13,000 codes under ICD-9 to more than 68,000 diagnosis codes under ICD-10. Under ICD-10, the code format changes as well. For example, ICD-10 codes can have a varying number of digits and the digit combinations can change (e.g.,###.##, ##.###.##).
Not being prepared for this transition will have serious financial consequences. Not using the proper diagnostic codes in your claims will result in decreased reimbursements, delays and denials. To be compliant, your information management and billing systems must be updated to translate ICD-9 codes to ICD-10, and you need to allow significant time for internal and external testing.
Merge Can Help
Merge is working to have our products that are used as part of the billing process be ready for ICD-10 testing in late 2013.
The
Merge Financials practice management billing system, will be enabled to automate the translation of ICD-9 codes to ICD-10. During the ICD-10 transition period, Merge Financials users will also have the flexibility for code for either ICD-9 and/or ICD-10. This flexibility will be helpful for practices working with multiple payers, some of whom have moved to ICD-10 and others who might still be in the transition process.
Merge OrthoEMR will be updated to allow users to use ICD-9 and ICD-10 simultaneously during the transition period. Merge ORthoEMR will be enhanced to automate the translation of ICD-9 to ICD-10, including search capabilities to assist with accurate coding of diagnosis.
Merge PM Merge PM will be ICD-10 compliant well before the Oct. 1, 2014 deadline. To deliver Merge PM, Merge partners with an industry leader in practice management, OPTUMInsight and has developed interfaces between Merge PM (from OPTUM) and Merge OrthoEMR. More information on Merge PM ICD-10 readiness is
available here.
If you utilize
Merge Cardio Web Reporting and your department workflow currently includes the use of ICD-9 codes, there are three methods to address ICD-10 changes:
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Change the department’s workflow to bypass the outdated configurations
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Contact Merge Professional Services to reconfigure the reporting to support an updated coding model and to partner with your departments in a bridge workflow
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Schedule an upgrade to Merge Cardio 10.0, which will include a reporting configuration tool that will allow your departments or designates to modify the reporting configuration as required to meet your transition needs
Merge Hemo will support ICD-10. Specifically, it will enable users to select ICD codes from a list in order to provide guidance to the coding/billing department to assist in proper coding.
Merge LIS ICD-10 updates are scheduled to be available for client testing in early 2014. Merge plans to maintain the ICD-9 code set during transition to ease migration to the new code sets.
Merge RIS will be ready for ICD-10 by October 1, 2014 and as soon as the Merge RIS version that supports ICD-10 is released, test servers can be set up to code in ICD-10 so that staff can have time to familiarize themselves with coding prior to system switchover. In addition, a crosswalk tool will be available for Merge RIS to assist staff in coding ICD-10 procedures.