Unless one has been to a vacation to Mars, he/she would definitely be aware that ICD-10 implementation has been postponed to October 1, 2014. But not all would be privy to the wisdom that a couple of years for ICD-10 transition planning are akin to asking Usain Bolt run the 100 meters sprint well under 9 seconds. Although that might seem impossible to many clinics, run they have to, if they don’t wish to be relegated to the healthcare sidelines. But then it is unlikely that a small clinic might be able to go through the ordeal, which we will be briefly alluding to below, without suffering a cardiac arrest. So, if you really want to tame the beast that is ICD-10 CM/PCS without breaking a sweat, then by far the best option would be (as many HIM pundits agree), to outsource the majority of your coding requirements to a dedicated vendor, and have a lean & mean team man the control center in your clinic.
The reason for the above is that ICD-10 calls for re-engineering and amalgamation of entire coding workflows in such a short period of time that it would be virtually impossible for a small clinic to be compliant if operating on their own. To begin with, the huge number of additional diagnostic codes; 55,000 extra to be exact, would make it mandatory that a clinic uses CAC software to do the first level of coding. Now, CAC software’s don’t come cheap, and thus it may not be viable for a clinic to adopt the same. In comparison, a dedicated medical coding and medical billing vendor, such as Billing Paradise may not have a problem in the usage of the same, because of the economies of scale advantage.
Also, it is believed that template-based transcription, as would become mandatory when using a meaningful use EHR, would increase the documentation perusal time for on-site coders and thus decrease productivity. But EHR based documentation has been proven to serve the greater good. Also template-based documentation could be increased in specificity if proper HIM guidance is provided in the EHR implementation phase (HIM consultation is one of BillingParadise’s core competencies). But the fact remains that an EHR-savvy coding workforce, such as those with a dedicated vendor like BillingParadise, can better handle the new coding feeder systems than on-site staff.
Finally, the overall costs inclusive of CAC, EHR modifications/migration, along with retraining and cross-training of the entire coding workforce might just drain the clinic’s coffer, which already might be reeling under strain from sagging bottom lines and stringent payer reimbursement criteria.
So don’t think twice, call BillingParadise at 1-888-571-9069 or email steve@billingparadise.com, you might just end up laughing all the way to the bank in 2014.
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