At least part of what has made the changeover to the new system so difficult, they say, is the sheer amount of medical codes will leap from 14,000 to as many as 80,000 codes. Adding to that, ICD-10 isn’t just about describing injuries in code form; there are billing systems and sub-systems that also need to be updated to account for the hefty changes.
The alteration from a strictly numeric system to an alphanumeric system also has complicated matters, many IT leaders are saying.
Although end-to-end testing has been available since early 2013, as well, only about 10 percent of providers are ready.
Sobering news, considering that the ICD-10 has already been delayed twice and there has been no indication from CMS that there will be any future postponements.
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