Where Should Doctors Be in the ICD-10 Conversion?
1.
All doctors should know coding. Ultimately, we are the ones responsible for any
billing or coding mistakes. We cannot pass the blame on someone else. The best way to protect ourselves from coding and billing
mistakes is to be proficient in it. While many rely on others for this task, we
still need basic knowledge and oversight of our billing practices, despite who
is actually doing the coding.
2.
Doctors should be learning ICD-10 coding. There are many seminars, webinars,
on-line materials and many sources available to teach us. We need to start
utilizing some of these references now. If we wait for the implementation to start, we
will be learning in crunch time and this is the way mistakes seep in. Better
learn from now when we have the leisure to make and learn from mistakes.
3.
Doctors and practices should have already or currently be mapping their codes.
What this means is that the most commonly used codes should be mapped out into
their ICD-10 equivalents. It will no longer be acceptable to just code
for knee pain. Now, the code needs to show the cause and exact location. What
could have been only coded with only one ICD-9 code in the past, now has many
more detailed ICD-10 codes to choose from.
4.
Some insurances are allowing codes to be submitted in the ICD-10 format from
next month. Make a trial run with one
insurance at a time. In this way, I will not have a major delay in
reimbursements and I have time to work out any flaws in the implementation
process. This also gives me a more ample way to become proficient in ICD-10
coding.
5.
We need to ask for help. There are many people available to help. Many of our
state and national medical societies have help available for us. We need to search
out these resources and use them
The Senate approved a bill Monday evening that
prevents steep cuts to Medicare physician payments from going into effect for
one year and delays the conversion to ICD-10 diagnostic and procedure codes for
at least one year. What next ?
AccuChecker has the solution – Call Us
305-227-2383
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