TMA On ICD-10: No More Delays After 2014
The TMA supports a government proposal to delay the compliance deadline of the ICD-10 codes transition to October 1, 2014, but believes that should remain a firm deadline with no additional delays.
In comments submitted to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Association said another delay would jeopardize physicians’ abilities to meet other health information technology deadlines. “The implementation date must be calculated so that other health IT initiatives are not compromised,” said the letter, signed by TMA Legal and Government Affairs Director Yarnell Beatty.
Read the letter.
Doctors are overwhelmed with the simultaneous implementation of multiple health IT programs – such as the value‐based modifier, e-prescribing penalties, physician quality reporting system (PQRS) and EHR meaningful use incentive and penalty programs – and are finding it difficult to prioritize, the letter stated. “We request that CMS better align the disparate program requirements to reduce the burdens of participating in them,” said the Association, adding that a proposal to gradually implement the new codes to ease the transition must be done in such a way that allows physicians to meet the Stage 3 meaningful use deadlines.
“ICD‐9 will not provide the best data and its code sets are not specific enough for physicians to demonstrate meaningful use. EHR data and the specific code sets that ICD‐10 affords are needed for the 2016 roll‐out of Phase 3 meaningful use standards,” said the TMA.
The TMA will continue its ICD-10 training sessions for member physicians in 2012, preparing them for the transition even as the delays are finalized. For more information, contact the TMA Legal Department at 800-659-1862.