Workers' Compensation claims are exempt from HIPAA and therefore not required to switch to the ICD-10 code set; however, practices may find it more practical to fully adopt the new codes rather than maintaining separate systems, according to a Claims Journal report.
Staff with ICD-9 proficiency would need to be retained to handle all HIPAA-exempt claims when the old code set will be defunct for all other claims.
Though professionals handling these claims do not need to be completely ICD-10 proficient by Oct. 1, 2014, they should follow the market where it's headed.
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