By Deborah Grider, CPC, CPC-I, CPC-H, CPC-P, CEMC, COBGC, CPCD, CCS-P

Is your organization delaying the implementation process.  Do you feel like the federal government will delay ICD-10 so you are procrastinating beginning the process? Are you risking delay and in some cases lost revenue in 2013?  ICD-10 seems like a long time away, but is it? Read more »

Nearly 700 attendees join the AAPC in Norfolk, Va., for two-day event

NORFOLK, Va.—Oct. 12, 2009—The American Academy of Professional Coders’ (AAPC) Regional Conference last weekend drew the largest number of attendees ever in the history of regional conferences, with nearly 700 medical coders and health care professionals attending the two-day continuing education event, Oct. 8-10. The conference boasted more than 20 educational breakout sessions, covering topics such as Medicare research tips and traps, understanding fraud and ICD-9-CM updates for 2010.

“One conference, 700 attendees and almost 20 exhibitors all in one place—this conference was a complete success and exceeded our expectations,” said Reed Pew, AAPC President and CEO. “We first began hosting regional conferences two years ago, and with the response we received this weekend in Norfolk, we look forward to hosting future regional conferences.”

Pew kicked off the conference Friday morning, discussing the AAPC’s plans for 2010 and its growth rate. The AAPC’s membership drive is in full swing, aiming to reach 100,000 members by the end of 2010. Additionally, Pew announced two new specialty credentials in Hematology/Oncology and Podiatry, as well as a new core credential, the Certified Professional Medical Auditor credential (CPMA). Pew also spoke about the AAPC’s efforts in the successful delay of the final implementation date for ICD-10.

AAPC Vice President of Strategic Development, Deborah Grider, presented a general session on beginning preparation now for ICD-10. The session discussed preparation of implementation and analysis of ICD-10 for physician practices, hospital departments and health plans—small or large. The AAPC will offer on-site ICD-10 training for both providers and health plans beginning in 2010.

The AAPC will host its 2010 National Conference June 6-9 in Nashville, Tenn., and its 2010 Regional Conference Oct. 7-9 in Springfield, Mass.

By Rhonda Buckholtz, CPC, CPC-I, CGSC, CPEDC, COBGC, CENTC

Let’s take a first look at how to code for HIV in ICD-10-CM. With a little help from the guidelines we will be well on our way. Familiarity with guidelines prior to code selection will help us along the way to proper code selection. Below is an excerpt from the Draft ICD-10-CM Guidelines regarding HIV coding. Read more »

TO: Members of the ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee
FROM: The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
RE: AAPC’s position regarding suspension of code changes prior to and following implementation of ICD-10-CM and -PCS

The American Academy of Professional Coders does not support the freezing of changes to ICD-9-CM prior to the Oct. 1, 2013 implementation of ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS. Because changes to other coding systems, specifically CPT and HCPCS Level II, will be required regardless of any change in ICD-9-CM code change scheduling, AAPC can see no benefit to freezing ICD-9-CM. And because medical science is continually evolving, AAPC believes any freeze of updates to diagnostic coding affects reporting accuracy and should be limited.

AAPC supports a freeze in changes to ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS. Because all users will be setting up entirely new systems to accommodate ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS in the year(s) prior to implementation, AAPC supports a freeze on changes to the ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS code sets beginning Oct. 1, 2012 (one year prior to implementation) and continuing until Oct. 1, 2014 (one year following implementation). This will provide a 24-month hiatus from any changes to the new system, which will ease the burden of adoption for all participants.

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the discussion on this very important topic. AAPC will be in attendance to the Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting September 16 and 17 in Baltimore.

By Angela “Annie” Boynton RHIT, CPC, CCS, CPC-H, CCS-P, CPC-P, CPC-I

At this point, many are aware of the impending upgrades to ICD-10 and 5010/D.0/3.0.  Much has been touted about the costs.  It seems that the majority of health care leaders ask “How can we afford to implement ICD-10?” It’s a valid question especially when nationwide estimates are as high as $8 billion dollars to implement ICD-10.  Over the past few years many studies have been done that focus on the cost of implementation.  RAND Corporation, the Nolan Corporation and Price Waterhouse Coopers have all studied the fiscal impact of ICD-10 implementation. Read more »

By Julia Croly, CPC, CPC-P

With ICD-10-CM/PCS on the horizon, health plans will need to review their policies and procedures that work behind the scenes to administer benefits and adjudicate claims.  Does your health plan deny claims for pre-existing conditions?  Who in your health plan is responsible for the maintenance of the pre-existing list of conditions and their ICD-9-CM code(s)?

Let’s step back and look at what “pre-existing” is and what it means to members and health plans.

Read more »

By Rhonda Buckholtz

Ongoing changes in the implementation of ICD-10 require taking a closer look at Internal Systems to ensure the organization has the capability to move forward with implementation.  Does your organization have enough hard drive space to house two codes sets (ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM) simultaneously for a period of time before and after implementation?

The organization must orient information systems technology (IT) personnel as to the specifications necessary for the code sets for successful transition. Read more »

The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC, www.aapc.com) has hired Deborah Grider as vice president of strategic development. Grider, an acknowledged health care author and medical coding expert, has more than 25 years of experience in the health care industry.

In her new role, Grider is responsible for strategic initiatives and major projects, beginning with the full development of the AAPC’s training and curriculum for the new ICD-10-CM medical coding system. Read more »

The Countdown to ICD-10 has begun. We have less than 53 months before implementation. Despite what you may have heard, the federal government has locked in an implementation date, and it is firm. The time to begin preparing is now! Where do you begin? Is the process too overwhelming? The AAPC will be here to help you transition every step of the way. Read more »