5. If your employer does not currently require ICD-10 proficiency they likely will in the very near future.
As we all know, ICD-10 is quickly approaching and it’s being implemented on October 1st. This is the system that everyone is going to be required to use, which is why it’s so crucial that all healthcare professionals receive the proper training to assist them with this transition. The transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 is going to involve an increase from 16,000 codes to 68,000 diagnosis codes. This is going help both healthcare professionals and coders because it will enable them to specify their diagnosis selection down to very minute details. For instance, instead of simply recording that a patient fractured a bone in their hand, the ICD-10 code set will allow specificity down to which hand, which fingers, which part of the fingers/hand were broken as well as the type of fracture.
Due to the fact that this new diagnosis code set system is being implemented, it will most likely affect your practice or healthcare business in the near future. This is why it’s crucial for you to get prepared today.
4. Being proactive with impending changes instead of reactive will lessen any potential financial ramifications.
Taking action and being prepared for this change will benefit you and your employer greatly within the upcoming months. By getting ICD-10 certified now, it will help to save you time in the future. Although your employer may not be requiring it now, they most likely will soon and at that time you may have several different projects and not have the time you need to complete it. Therefore it is a better idea to plan out your training classes and certifications when you have time and avoid spreading yourself thin in the future. Not only will your employer appreciate the time and effort that you took to get this done, they will most likely find you as a highly valuable employee in months and years to come as well.
3. Everyone in your practice including physicians, clinical staff, coders and accounts receivables will be affected.
As the ICD-10 implementation takes place on October 1st, it will become apparent to all healthcare professionals, including physicians, clinical staff, coders, and accounts receivables, that they will be greatly affected. Physicians and clinical staff will need to know these codes to be able to properly document conditions in medical records as they occur. Coders and accounts receivables on the other hand will need to know these codes to be able to perform audits and educate staff. Insurance companies will need specific training in regards to determining medical necessity requirements and appropriately assigning reimbursement to providers or facilities. According to this information, it’s clear that all parties involved are going to be affected by this change and therefore should all be ready for when it’s implemented on October 1st!
2. ICD-10 implementation is inevitable. You either evolve or go the route of the dinosaurs.
It’s time to stop denying that the ICD-10 implementation is taking place on October 1st. The fact is that the new code set will be mandatory in less than a month and it’s crucial that all healthcare professionals take the steps necessary to ensure that they are fully prepared by this time. Overall, the ICD-10 diagnosis codes have much more to offer than the ICD-9 codes ever did. For instance, ICD-10 has 68,000 codes available, whereas ICD-9 has 16,000 codes available. Also, ICD-10 is flexible for lots of room for expansion, and it’s very specific even including laterality, which makes it much easier for the coder. On the other hand, ICD-9 contains little space for new codes, and lacks details as well as laterality. Once this implementation takes full effect, all involved will see that this change is positive.
1. You must pass the ICD-10 proficiency test to maintain your AAPC certification.
Last but certainly not least, the top reason and most important fact as to why you should acquire your ICD-10 certification is because you must pass the ICD-10 proficiency test to maintain your AAPC certification. If you don’t maintain your AAPC certification then you can’t perform your basic job duties. That is why this is hands-down the top reason as to why you should obtain your ICD-10 certification as soon as possible before October 1st is here!
If you’re interested in getting ICD-10 certified today, check out our educational courses at advizehealth.com/events/ or reach out to our team at info@advizehealth.com for more information.
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