Recently HHS/CMS announced intent to delay the ICD-10 Compliance deadline of OCT,2013. Now we already have delayed it already by 2 years. HHS has uncertainty around is couple years back and now they are at the same place. Also, to add to this is that all industrialized countries are on ICD-10 from almost 8+ years and are bracing to upgrade to ICD-11 around 2015 when it comes out.
The reasoning behind delay always has logical sound to it but the problem is with Meaningful use in rearview mirror for 4 years, there will not be right time for ICD-10. ICD-10 doesn't just bring the complexity but it bring the detailed terminology coding for the diseases which helps in Physician Documentation to identify the health problem with more details and also it helps better understand reimbursement for the treatment.
So in inquisitive mind, you will think since ICD-11 is coming in 2015, why not go with it skipping ICD-10. That sounds like a good idea but it is not, imagine how much time and energy has been spent by Healthcare organizations and Vendors associated with Terminology content delivery. Along with that comes the deviations that we have to create for ICD-11 to fit our fold which will take around 2-3 years to do, which takes to 2018 for implementations. With all that in mind, it doesn't seem like a good idea to wait for 6-7 more year for new iteration of ICD.
So all in all, ICD-10 delay will not help anyways which organizations are expecting it will, on contrary it will create more problems.
The reasoning behind delay always has logical sound to it but the problem is with Meaningful use in rearview mirror for 4 years, there will not be right time for ICD-10. ICD-10 doesn't just bring the complexity but it bring the detailed terminology coding for the diseases which helps in Physician Documentation to identify the health problem with more details and also it helps better understand reimbursement for the treatment.
So in inquisitive mind, you will think since ICD-11 is coming in 2015, why not go with it skipping ICD-10. That sounds like a good idea but it is not, imagine how much time and energy has been spent by Healthcare organizations and Vendors associated with Terminology content delivery. Along with that comes the deviations that we have to create for ICD-11 to fit our fold which will take around 2-3 years to do, which takes to 2018 for implementations. With all that in mind, it doesn't seem like a good idea to wait for 6-7 more year for new iteration of ICD.
So all in all, ICD-10 delay will not help anyways which organizations are expecting it will, on contrary it will create more problems.
