AMA Plans to Fight ICD-10

The AMA during its semi-annual policy making session has adopted a policy of fighting to stop implementation of the ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure code sets. The AMA’s action comes less than 23 months before the ICD-10 compliance date of Oct. 1, 2013. In adopting its new policy to oppose ICD-10, the AMA cited a 2008 study showing migration to the code sets would cost a three-physician practice $83,290 and a 10-physician practice $285,195. “The implementation of ICD-10 will create significant burdens on the practice of medicine with no direct benefit to individual patients’ care,” said Peter Carmel, M.D., AMA president, in a statement. “At a time when we are working to get the best value possible for our health care dollar, this massive and expensive undertaking will add administrative expense and create unnecessary workflow disruptions. The timing could not be worse as many physicians are working to implement electronic health records into their practices. We will continue working to help physicians keep their focus where it should be—on their patients.” The AMA’s new policy calls for an assessment for “an appropriate replacement” for the ICD-9 code sets.