Let's talk about ICD-10!
Do you know that this country's medical coding system is changing from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS on October 1, 2014? This is less than a year away and healthcare facilities are scrambling to learn, prepare and plan for the transition. This is perhaps the biggest change in our healthcare industry for many decades.
Medical coding is directly related to reimbursement. Coding is one of the primary functions of the hospital HIM department and any facility that bills insurance companies and Medicare/Medicaid for services must have someone on staff who is a coding expert. A large sized hospital may employ as many as 10 coders! Coding is also one of the HIM careers that can be done remotely - it is the trend now that many coders are working from home.
Here is a nice fact sheet that will give you the basics. (Note that it says the implementation date is 10/1/2013. This is because it WAS supposed to happen this year but it got pushed back a year in 2012). The fact sheet also includes some helpful websites that will give you more information. This is a good one to check out: ICD-10 on CMS.gov
If coding interests you, now is a good time to become an ICD-10 expert. Everyone will be on a level playing field on 10/1/14 - even coders with years of experience will be a brand new ICD-10 coder. Employers will be looking for those who have solid knowledge of ICD-10 and will want Coding Supervisors who can lead the way!
Have a great week! Until next Wednesday...
Cindy Glewwe, M.Ed., RHIA
Director, Health Information Management Program
Charter Oak State College
55 Paul J. Manafort Drive
New Britain, CT 06053
(Ph.) 860-515-3833
cglewwe@charteroak.edu
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