CMS May Extend ICD-10 Timeline

Officials with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) told OSMA physician leaders and others on Feb. 14 that the agency plans to extend the timeline for ICD-10 implementation. Acting CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner announced that the Obama Administration is taking another look at the policy and the deadline.

As it stands now, all physicians and hospitals are required to start using the new diagnosis codes by Oct. 1, 2013. ICD-10 has a completely different structure from ICD-9. While ICD-9 codes are mostly numeric and have three to five digits, ICD-10 codes will be alphanumeric and contain three to seven characters.

The OSMA supported the AMA’s advocacy efforts to push Congress and the federal government to recognize the burdens that the timeline surrounding ICD-10 implementation places on physicians. The AMA’s advocacy directly led to the decision to review the implementation timeline.

"I want you to know that we have heard you and understand your concerns about the burden facing all of you given the number of actions on your plate today," Tavenner said, according to a story in American Medical News.

More information on this story is also available from HealthLeaders Media.

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