New Research Suggests ICD-10 Readiness Lagging Nationwide

Physician practices are lagging behind and are concerned about being ready for the Oct. 1, 2014, ICD-10 compliance date. According to an MGMA press release, researchers compiled survey responses from more than 1,200 practices staffed by some 55,000 physicians nationwide. When asked to rate their overall readiness for ICD-10 implementation, only 4.8 percent of responding practices said they had made significant progress toward or were completely ready to implement the new system. Physicians’ biggest concerns were the cost of implementation, changes in documentation and loss of productivity. A large majority of practices had not heard from health plans or trading partners about plans to test systems prior to implementation, which is a critical step to successfully implement ICD-10.

In the press release, MGMA President and CEO Susan Turney, M.D., called the ongoing work associated with the ICD-10 transition “unprecedented.” “It is proving to be one of the most complex and expensive changes our health care system has faced in decades,” said Turney. She noted that ICD-10 — which increases by fivefold the number of diagnosis codes from which physicians may choose — is set to take effect simultaneously with other federal policy deadlines, including the availability of state health insurance exchanges and implementation of stage two of meaningful use of EHRs.