Many in the healthcare industry are disappointed by the ICD-10 delay and there's quite a bit of uncertainty about how it will affect providers, though the exact consequences of the decision won't be fully known for some time. However, it's worth asking whether or not the delay presents at least some advantages, even if it's is viewed as a generally negative development.

Industry news source HealthDataManagement.com recently sat down with healthcare consultants Ed Hock and Jim Lazarus, to ask their thoughts on how the delay will affect health providers and payers. They acknowledged that the delay would likely result in extra costs for those who have already invested in compliance, but these costs aren't wasted.

"Continuing to invest in [clinical documentation improvement programs] is a no-regret tactic for providers," Lazarus says. He and Hock went on to say that the extra time afforded by the delay means that providers can develop dual code systems, through which they are able to compare compensation rates for both ICD-9 and ICD-10 to determine how reimbursement rates will differ once the new system is adopted.

There is, of course, a large segment of providers who have been dragging their feet when it comes to transitioning to ICD-10, so for these individuals and organizations, the delay is a welcome reprieve. Still, all signs point to the ICD-10 switch taking place within the next two years, and when that happens it will be crucial for DCs to use the best chiropractic EMR software available. This will ensure that they are in compliance with federal standards, and will also improve their ability to handle higher volumes of patients while keeping more accurate records.