CMS ICD-10 Testing Approach

As the ICD-10 implementation date of October 1, 2014 approaches, CMS released an article to explain the testing approach they are taking for ICD-10 implementation. CMS began installing and testing system changes to support ICD-10 in 2011. As of October 1, 2013, all Medicare FFS claims processing systems were ready for ICD-10 implementation. CMS continues to test its ICD-10 software changes with each quarterly release. CMS will offer ICD-10 acknowledgement testing from March 3–7, 2014. This testing will allow all providers, billing companies, and clearinghouses the opportunity to determine whether CMS will be able to accept their claims with ICD-10 codes. While test claims will not be adjudicated, the MACs will return an acknowledgment to the submitter (a 277A) that confirms whether the submitted test claims were accepted or rejected. In summer 2014, CMS will offer end-to-end testing to a small sample group of providers. Details about the end-to-end testing process will be disseminated at a later date. End-to-end testing includes the submission of test claims to CMS with ICD-10 codes and the provider’s receipt of a Remittance Advice (RA) that explains the adjudication of the claims. The small sample group of providers who participate in end-to-end testing will be selected to represent a broad cross-section of provider types, claims types, and submitter types.