Last week, June 23rd MGMA released new research conducted earlier this month that highlights two distinct hurdles practices face in the government-mandated, Oct. 1, 2014 transition to the new ICD-10 diagnostic code set. According to MGMA’s Legislative and Executive Advocacy Response Network research, practices continue to struggle with understanding how the process will work, the considerable costs to upgrade and or replace required software as well as the lack of communication between practices and their trading partners.
The LEARN study shows:
The average expense for a 10-physician practice to upgrade or replace their practice management system (PM) and EHR software to accommodate ICD-10 is $201,690.
More than 52 percent of respondents have not heard from their PM vendor regarding when software changes would be available to the practice.
Nearly 50 percent have not heard from their EHR vendor;
Almost 60 percent report not having heard from their clearinghouse regarding a testing date;
Only 8.6 percent have started or have completed testing with their major health plans; and
Fully 70 percent have not heard from their major health plans.
For the practice the ICD-10 mandate continues moving towards the compliance start date but multiple issues continue impeding effective implementation and requires clarity. Vendors, clearinghouses and payers and health plans should immediately release their implementation action plans and product testing schedules. At best the ICD-10 transition will not be easy or without pain for the practice. A successful implementation process including effective communication (internal and external) is critical to avoid significant cash flow disruption following the compliance go live date.
