The transition to ICD-10 is one of the most daunting regulatory requirements ever imposed on physicians. Not only will the number of diagnosis codes dramatically increase from 16,000 ICD-9 codes to 68,000 ICD-10 codes, new formatting and documentation requirements will impact numerous medical office processes and personnel. While the compliance date for ICD-10 implementation of October 1, 2014 may seem far away, physicians are encouraged to start planning for ICD-10 and 5010 transition immediately.

 

About ICD-10

ICD-10-CM/PCS (International Classification of Diseases, 10^th Edition, Clinical Modification/Procedure Coding System) consists of two parts:

ICD-10-CM is for use in all U.S. health care settings. Diagnosis coding under ICD-10-CM uses 3 to 7 digits instead of the 3 to 5 digits used with ICD-9-CM, but the format of the code sets is similar.

ICD-10-PCS is only for use in all U.S. inpatient hospital settings. ICD-10-PCS uses 7 alphanumeric digits instead of the 3 or 4 numeric digits used under ICD-9-CM procedure coding. Coding under ICD-10-PCS is much more specific and substantially different from ICD-9-CM procedure coding.

 

Who Needs to Transition

ICD-10 will affect diagnosis and inpatient procedure coding for all health providers covered by HIPAA. Everyone covered by HIPAA who transmits electronic claims must also switch to version 5010 transaction standards. The change to ICD-10 does not affect CPT coding for outpatient procedures.

ICD-10 diagnosis codes must be used for all health care services provided in the U.S. on or after October 1, 2013. Claims with ICD-9 codes for services provided on or after October 1, 2014 cannot be paid.

 

Training

SFMS/CMA have partnered with AAPC, the nation’s largest medical training and credentialing association, to offer ICD-10 training to our members. Join us on December 5, from 12:15 pm to 1:45pm, for a free webinar about ICD-10 and how it will impact your practice. Topics covered include:

• Key differences between ICD-9 and ICD-10
• Scope of ICD-10 transition in a typical medical practice
• Key steps in planning a successful transition
• Resources to assist you

Click here to view the list of ICD-10 webinars/workshops available to members.

 

Additional Resources

General ICD-10 Information

CMS-0013-P—HIPAA Administrative Simplification: Modification to Medical Data Code Set Standards to Adopt ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PMS

Transactions and Code Sets Regulations

ICD-10 Basics for Medical Practices 

Talking To Your Vendors about ICD-10 and Version 5010 - Tips for Medical Practices  

ICD-10 Transition FAQs

Join SFMS/CMA for our complimentary webinar on ethnic physicians and cultural competency.

California: A Physician Melting Pot
Wednesday, November 29
12:15 pm to 1:15 pm

Learn about the ethnic demographics of California's population and how they compare to those of physicians. This webinar will also present information regarding cultural competency and ethnic medical organizations.

 

To register for this webinar, please visit www.cmanet.org/events. Non-SFMS members are invited to join this webinar for $99.

On October 18, 2012, payors in California will be required to accept workers’ compensation claims electronically. California is one of the first states in the country to require payors to accept electronic billing (e-billing) of workers’ compensation claims.

 

While e-billing is currently optional for physicians, the California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has adopted new regulations for standardized paper billing forms and e-billing standards, which encourage both workers’ compensation insurers and medical providers to transition to e-billing. The DWC website contains information on the updated regulations, a frequently asked questions summary and a link to the “Electronic Medical Billing and Payment Companion Guide 2012.”

 

SFMS/CMA have partnered with the California Orthopedic Association, American Medical Association, and the California Department of Industrial Relations to a offer a four-part California e-billing webinar training program presented by DWC, Jopari Solutions, and other industry experts. The four webinars are as follows:

 

• August 16: Are You Ready?
  
• August 23: Implementation (August 23)
• August 30: Understanding Remittance Advice Rules
• September 6: Effective eBilling

Registration for this series of webinars is free to SFMS physician members and their staff. For more information or to register for these or any CMA webinar, please click on the individual webinar names above or visit www.cmanet.org/events.

Are you a San Francisco physician interested in:

 

• Making a lasting impression on the future generation of physicians?
• Having a medical student in your office for four weeks?
• Passing on invaluable knowledge?
• Obtaining UCSF Volunteer Clinical Faculty status?

Help foster future physicians by precepting a first- or second-year medical student in your practice setting. Please consider signing up for a volunteer teaching opportunity at UCSF. There's a need for primary care physician preceptors, but all San Francisco physicians are eligible to participate. Time commitment ranges from a few hours to a few weeks.

Click here to view detailed opportunities and program contact.

The Eighth National Conference on Quality Health Care for Culturally Diverse Populations: Achieving Equity in an Era of Innovation and Health System Transformation

 

March 11-14, 2013, Oakland, California

Anne Tang, MD and the SFMS invite members to submit presentation proposals for this internationally acclaimed conference on cultural and linguistic competence and health equity, which attracts over 800 participants every two years. We encourage health care professionals, community representatives, advocates, policymakers, researchers and others from the U.S. and around the world to submit brief proposals on good practices and innovative approaches related to the following thematic categories: 

• language access
• culturally competent care/disparity reduction
• cultural competence/disparity reduction education and training
• organizational cultural competence
• policy
• research

Proposals are due by Friday, June 8, 2012. Click here to learn more and submit proposals online at the DiversityRx website.
 
The theme for this year's conference is "Achieving Equity in an Era of Innovation and Health System Transformation." New partnerships between health care organizations and communities, research into better ways to deliver care, and changes in health policy are opening up opportunities to achieve equity and the highest quality health care for culturally diverse populations. In this time of transition, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and advocates for health equity can focus attention on implementation, participation and improving health outcomes for individuals and communities. The 2013 conference will offer participants the opportunity to hear from experts and front-line leaders about how diverse populations are affected b:

• state and national reform efforts
• changes to the Medicaid program
• innovative technology for information management and outreach
• social determinants of health
• other practice and financing developments

As always, the conference will continue to feature both established and innovative cultural and linguistic competence and disparity reduction programs and policies from across the country and abroad. Support the conference by spreading the word! Please forward this email to your friends and colleagues.

Click here to view full details about the DiversityRx Conference.