On March 13, 2013, CMS issued an updated ICD-10 Implementation Guide for Payers, which details why we’re transitioning to ICD-10, gives an overview of ICD-10 and its benefits, outlines the difference between ICD-9 and ICD-10, and explains how to implement the ICD-10 code set. CMS recommends breaking down the ICD-10 implementation project into six phases:
- Planning Phase
- Communication and Awareness Phase
- Assessment Phase
- Implementation Phase
- Testing Phase
- Transition Phase
We highly recommend that all our healthcare payer friends read this handy 56-page ICD-10 Implementation Guide. You may also benefit from CMS’ ICD-10 Timeline and ICD-10 Checklist for payers.