The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is ready for the Oct. 1 transition to the diagnosis and procedure codes in the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD-10). In a recent blog post, CMS assured readers it has tested its systems and is prepared to assist providers as problems arise. If needed, providers should first contact their Medicare administrative contractor (MAC) for Medicare claims questions. Providers can subsequently email the ICD-10 Coordination Center or the ICD-10 ombudsman for any further assistance.
If providers are not prepared for the Oct. 1 transition to ICD-10, the following options may be available to submit payment claims for care provided to patients:
- free billing software offered by MACs
- claims submission on provider internet portals
- direct data entry
- paper claims
CMS has previously said MACs will not deny physician claims due to incorrect ICD-10 codes for one year, as long as the code the provider lists on the claim belongs to the correct code family. America’s Essential Hospitals has compiled a list of resources to help members prepare for a seamless transition to ICD-10, including fact sheets, implementation guides, interactive guides, and more.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Erin O’Malley, director of policy, at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127.