A group of industry titans called the Coalition for ICD-10 strictly opposed the additional delay and is working to prevent any further delay past Oct. 1, 2015.
Organizations should maintain momentum and keep a steady pace with their training efforts. Regular hands-on practice and ICD-10 refreshers should be continued. Make plans to once again ramp up training six to nine months prior to the new implementation deadline once it is announced.
ICD-10’s requirements for greater documentation specificity drove additional executive interest, operational investments, and human resource focus. Continue this momentum by funding CDI programs and focusing on physician documentation integrity in 2014.
Also ensure that physicians’ thought processes (regarding diagnoses, evaluations, and treatment plans) are accurately documented. They are the key to capturing severity of illness, supporting medical necessity, and ensuring quality and continuity of patient care.
As usual, we will keep you posted.