As Apex3 is working with several strategic partners to bring our IT expertise to the health care community, this blog will, from time to time, devote space to the ICD-10 transition. Here’s a list of important actions health care providers should be taking now, with an eye to the transition looming in October 2013…
• Form executive steering committee and set expectations for transition requirements
• Create a governance structure for the ICD‐10 program
• Perform an impact assessment and identify potential changes to existing work flow and business processes (6 months)
• Collect information from each department staff members who will need ICD-10 training
• Evaluate the effect of ICD-10 on other planned or on-going projects (e.g., 5010 transition, EHR adoption and Meaningful Use)
• Determine the business and technical implementation strategy
• Estimate costs associated with the implementation, such as software, hardware, and staff training
• Evaluate contracts and contact vendors, clearinghouses, and billing services to understand their readiness and plans
• Determine anticipated testing time and include in the transition schedule