Transitioning to ICD-10 with a Multitude of Free Resources

By Melanie Endicott

With just four months until the big implementation day, you are probably feeling one of two things… Relief that it’s finally here and you can begin putting into practice everything you’ve learned over the past 5-6 years of preparation, or panic because you still have much more to do to prepare. If you find yourself in the latter category, there are a multitude of free resources available to assist in these final months.

Resources for Coders

• The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is the place to go to find timely resources on ICD-10. A dedicated webpage for coding professionals includes many helpful resources, such as the ICD-10 Implementation Toolkit, training opportunities, and a multitude of articles and other references. By this point, coders should have been trained in ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS (inpatient coders). They should be practicing assigning ICD-10 codes to real medical records and identifying any areas where they need additional education to be ready for the transition.
• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also has a dedicated web page with access information on the code sets for coders and other healthcare professionals. Both the ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS codes are listed on this webpage in their entirety, along with many helpful resources, such as videos and articles. The 2016 codes recently became available, so be sure to review any changes from what you’ve previously learned, such as the new section X in ICD-10-PCS.

Resources for Providers

• The American Medical Association (AMA) offers many resources for both members and non-members to assist in the transition to ICD-10. Access to free educational resources covering topics such as the revised CMS-1500 claim form, a 12-step transition plan to ICD-10, and other helpful topics, are available to anyone who fills out a simple form on their web page.
• CMS offers a plethora of resources for providers. Their site, Road to 10, is ideal for the small physician practice needing preparation tools. This site provides information from providers for providers, including specialty-specific resources and a customizable action plan.
• AHIMA has a dedicated web page for provider resources. Documentation improvement tools, implementation tools, and training opportunities can all be found on the ICD-10 for Physicians & Clinicians.
• The Coalition for ICD-10 is constantly adding new resources to assist in the transition to ICD-10. On their website, providers can find timely articles that answer some of the industry’s pressing questions, such as ‘How much is the transition going to really cost me?” and ‘How can my practice avoid revenue disruptions during the transition?”
• Providers should also check out their specialty society websites, such as the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and their state medical society for additional resources.

Resources for All Others

Other users of coded data, such as HIM professionals, data analysts, payers, etc., can access the AHIMA web page that was specifically designed for other stakeholders. Resources on this page include readiness assessment, implementation tools, and training opportunities.

The above mentioned tools and resources should get you to October 1, 2015 and beyond. This is an exciting time for healthcare. Having better, more specific data with the ICD-10 code sets will produce so many benefits and ultimately result in higher quality patient care.

Melanie Endicott, MBA/HCM, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA, is senior director of HIM practice excellence, coding and CDI products development at AHIMA. She has over 15 years experience in HIM and coding, with her most recent focus being in ICD-10-CM/PCS, and has presented numerous times at the regional, state, and national levels on HIM and coding topics. She was previously a director of HIM practice excellence, focusing on coding products, resources, and education, at AHIMA. Melanie is an AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainer and an ICD-10 Ambassador.