4 Tips for Helping Physicians Embrace ICD-10

Tags: benefits | billing | coding | cooperation | ICD-10 | implementation | physician | revenue | technology

To fully and properly implement ICD-10, healthcare practices will need more detailed information and increased cooperation from physicians, according to Advance.

Here are four tips for preparing physicians for the coding switch.

1. Focus your efforts. Inform your physicians what will change with the diagnoses and procedures specific to their practice so they will find the information pertinent. Also include practice examples of how the language for ICD-9 and ICD-10 will differ.

2. Concentrate on the benefits. Be upfront with how ICD-10 may impact the physicians' practices and revenue. Reiterate how ICD-10 and better documentation will reduce denials, audits and take-backs from RACs.

3. Use mobile technology. Implement an application that can give ICD-10 documentation reminders to physicians through their mobile devices and texting to establish its convenience.

4. Encourage competition. Physicians are more likely to push each other to adopt new coding changes through competitive challenges. Post results publicly and provide incentives for winning challenges.

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