Month: May 2012

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Texas Medical Association Says Scrap ICD-10

 

Texas doctors, through the Texas Medical Association, submitted comments to HHS (Department of Health and Human Services) recommending HHS scraps the implementation of ICD-10 completely. (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Edition).

Original article: Healthcare business news and research ModernHealthcare Article – Texas Suggests Scrapping ICD-10

The Texas Medical Association makes some really good points.

  1. ICD-10 has been around since the mid-1990?s and the US is just now getting around to ?officially? adopting them. Given that that ICD-11 is due in 2015, and the costs/benefits of going to ICD-10 are minimal vs. going straight to ICD-11, it?s just makes sense to go straight to ICD-11.
  2. ICD-11 is being revised using Web 2.0 principles and designed specifically for incorporation into electronic medical health records.
  3. Given that it?s taken more than 20 years to move from ICD-9 to ICD-10, this makes even more sense. Why adopt ICD-10 just in time to be replaced with a better standard?

Another great point, ?HHS should recognize that the costs of going to ICD-11 directly are less than incurring the remaining costs of implementing ICD-10 in 2013 and then implementing ICD-11 sometime soon thereafter.”

TMA is not alone as the American Medical Association, a host of state medical groups and medical specialty societies, submitted their own comments calling for at least a one-year delay in ICD-10 implementation.

One can always hope for common sense to prevail, can?t they? In any case, the implementation deadlines are looming and the US will be moving to a new standard; are you ready?

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Update on Sunshine Act Compliance Deadlines

Back in December I wrote a blog post about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rule change for reporting on the Physicians Payment Sunshine Act. Original post here: http://i3.infinityinfo.com/blogs/entry/sunshine-act-compliance-deadlines-extended

The CMS had decided to extend the data collection start date from January 1, 2012 to ?some later date?. A few days ago, on May 3, the CMS provided some updated information in their blog (The CMS Blog). During the extended comment period they received over 300 comments. that?s a good thing that people are voicing their concerns.

The CMS still hasn?t issued a final date but says in their blog ?CMS will not require data collection by applicable manufacturers and applicable group purchasing organizations before January 1, 2013? and ?CMS intends to release the final rule later this year?.

Some news is better than no news. The window is closing though for companies that will be required to report this information to the FDA. Time is ticking. We have helped a number of companies ensure their systems and processes are up date and compliant. If you are struggling with these rules, give us call, we are happy to help you too!