ICD-10 codes a go?
This article was originally published in The Gray Sheet
Executive Summary
The "Critical Access to Health Information Technology Act of 2005" (S 1952), introduced Nov. 2 by Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn), would direct HHS to promulgate a final rule to adopt ICD-10 codes to replace the existing ICD-9 payment system by Oct. 1, 2006. Industry has long championed the ICD-10 system, which it claims would provide for more accurate reimbursement rates for novel technology (1"The Gray Sheet" June 14, 2004, p. 31). The bill also would empower HHS to award grants to eligible states for increasing health IT adoption in rural areas. In the House, Rep. Nancy Johnson's (R-Conn.) "Health Information Technology Promotion Act of 2005" (HR 4157) calls for the coding "upgrade," as well as a study and subsequent report to help establish a single set of state and federal security and confidentiality standards...