ICD-10 will affect your software, your super bills, your workflow, your documentation, and more. Use this checklist to help your practice ensure a successful transition:

1. Review information about ICD-10 published by CMS (www.cms.gov/icd10)

2. Order new CMS-1500 (02/12) Paper Claim Forms. Medicare will begin accepting the revised form on January 6, 2014 and on April 1, 2014, will only accept the revised form.

3. Order ICD-10-CM Coding Handbook for training and evaluating the equivalent codes for your ICD-9-CM codes.  Here are a couple of good tools:

• ICD-10-CM 2014 Codebook from the AMA
• ICD-10-CM Mappings 2014 from the AMA

4. Identify your 50-100 most commonly used ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes and begin identifying the equivalent ICD-10-CM codes.

5. Review your documentation.

Based on your review of the most commonly used ICD-9 codes and the equivalent ICD-10 codes determine if your current documentation will sufficiently allow you to identify the correct ICD-10 code or if you have to modify your current documentation methods, templates, or forms.

6. Review your current encounter form or superbill.

After reviewing your most commonly used ICD-9 codes, identify the ICD-10 codes that you feel would be ideal to add to your superbill. If the volume of codes exceeds your current superbill, then evaluate other options including laminated cheat sheets.

If you use a pre-printed paper superbill, make plans to update and reprint. If your practice management system generates your superbill, then plan to create the replacement form as soon as your vendor is ready to support ICD-10.

Schedule the review of the new form with your provider(s) prior to the transition.

7. Analyze your workflow.

This is a significant change, and you will need to evaluate your current workflow and where there may be delays (documentation, coding, billing, rejections, etc.) to create contingency plans. Here are some examples to consider:

• Provider taking longer to do documentation and coding.
• Coders, billers requesting additional documentation from the provider to complete coding and billing.

8. Conduct staff training.

Identify training vendors that are ideal for your practice (i.e., specialty- or role-specific coding training).

Order training materials now and reduce the risk of backorders.

Schedule your staff training.

9. Develop a financial plan.

Identify current practice budget (monthly) and determine funding options in the event of payment delays (payer issues, rejections, denials, technical issues, etc.). At a minimum plan for three months but have a contingency plan if it lasts longer.

10. Begin testing.

Your practice management and billing software vendor should contact you when clearinghouses and payers are ready to begin testing claims.

Submit test claims to ensure accuracy.

For a download of this checklist and more ICD-10 resources, visit www.kareo.com/ICD-10.