Friday, May 20, 2016

EHR Optimization a Highlight of Upcoming ICD-10 Upgrades

A new guide aims to prepare healthcare practices for the next phase of ICD-10 implementation, which involves latest codes and regulations on unspecified codes that will need the certain EHR optimization efforts.

Many healthcare contributors, whether reluctantly or not, have already implemented ICD-10 coding procedures and sustained to offer care with the system in place. However, like many aspects of the industry, providers will require to prepare for upcoming updates and changes to ICD-10 on the day of October 1, 2016.

To help healthcare stakeholders, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has released a guide on how to manage ICD-10 post payment reviews and unspecified codes. Per the guidance, healthcare practices should also evaluate their EHR systems to make sure that coding errors have been reported. Many EHR systems are designed to recommend the correct ICD-10 codes, but some stakeholders have noticed that these systems are not perfect.

“While the correct level of ICD-10 code specificity has always been required for National Coverage Determinations, Local Coverage Determinations, other claims edits, prepayment reviews, and prior authorization requests, physicians were granted amnesty from post payment reviews because of unspecified codes,” wrote Christina Lee, MHS, RHIA, CCS, CPC, in the AHIMA newsletter.

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