ICD-10 Impact Assessment

An Impact assessment is a major effort made early in the ICD-10 Transition Process and can take up to three months, depending on the number of areas that must be assessed and the level of preparedness of the practice. The results drive the action items that become part of the project plan and estimate the budget.

The impact of ICD-10 transition must be evaluated for all organizational operations.

1. Conduct survey of all business areas to determine level of impact of the transition.
2. Determine how long dual code sets will need to be maintained.
3. Inventory all systems applications and databases using ICD-9 CM codes.
4. Determine the types of system changes that will be made.
5. Audit the software vendors and contracts to see which changes they will be making and when.
6. Are there system interfaces that use ICD-9 CM codes such as lab interfaces and e-prescribing?
7. Identify new or upgraded hardware / software requirements.
8. Do chart audits of charts with common diagnoses in ICD-9 to assess the quality of the current medical record documentation.
9. Identify ways that processes and work flows could be improved.
10. Determine the education needs of doctors, medical staff, billing staff and medical coders.
11. Identify all ICD-10 transition expenses and estimate associated costs:  software modifications, Education, hardware / software upgrades,  testing related costs, Consulting services to help with the transition, staff time, data conversion, maintenance of dual code sets, and additional software or other tools / resources to facilitate the ICD-10 transition.*

(*excerpt from ICD-10-CM/PCS Transition: Planning and Preparation Checklist | 2012 American Health Information Manangement Assoc.)

(previous March 24th newsletter - Business Processes and ICD-10 Effects table taken from CMS Road to 10:The Small Physician Practice's Route to ICD-10)

ICD-10 FAQs

When must doctors only submit diagnoses in ICD-10?

Beginning October 1st, 2014, doctors must only submit claims with ICD-10 diagnoses. The diagnostic code used must show medical necessity and be the most specific code available.

For more FAQs regarding ICD-10, go to ICD-10 FAQs on the Meaningful Use Experts website.