To say that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has been slightly less than forthcoming on the delay of ICD-10 would be something of an understatement. Earlier this year, when Congress and President Obama agreed to extend the deadline by at least a year, the healthcare industry quickly turned to CMS for an answer on when the new date would be. It was a month later that the federal agency finally issued its response of October 1, 2015, coming after weeks of silence that left many providers, payers and vendors frustrated. 

Now Congress is looking for answers too. EHR Intelligence reports that six Congressional leaders have penned a letter addressed to CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner in a bid to request more concrete details about ICD-10 timetables and testing periods ahead of the October 2015 deadline. The agency has thus far not been particularly proactive in clarifying these issues, but Congress is tapping on CMS' shoulder for answers that will very soon become crucial to proper ICD-10 implementation in the next 15 months.

"To ensure successful adoption of ICD-10 next October, CMS must take the necessary steps to ensure the Agency, providers and contractors are all fully prepared to maintain the integrity of federal programs," the letter states.

The Congressional request asks for information on the outreach and educational initiatives CMS has planned for ICD-10 preparations, "as well as details about any opportunities for stakeholders to participate in ICD-10 readiness planning," writes EHR Intelligence.

Utilizing only the best chiropractic EHR software can help ensure that a clinic is ready to make the jump to ICD-10 next year, and without any disruptions to regular workflow.