KLAS: Providers Look at Computer-Assisted Coding for ICD-10 Transition

Orem, Utah-based research firm, KLAS has released a report indicating a majority of providers are planning to purchase an inpatient computer-assisted coding (CAC) solution within the next two years in order to assist with the ICD-10 transition. The authors of the report, Computer-Assisted Coding: A Glimpse at the Future of HIM Technology, say providers view CAC solutions as a way to help make up for some of the lost productivity and reimbursement that ICD-10 will create.

"Providers worry their staff will not be ready in time for ICD-10. Though the market is young and no vendor has fully proven itself in the inpatient space, provider confidence that computer-assisted coding  technology will ultimately create greater efficiency, productivity, and ICD-10 readiness is high,” Graham Triggs, the report’s author, said in a statement.

Because of the timing, many providers are looking to pull the trigger on a CAC purchase decision soon. Because of its encoder market share, 3M has gained the highest mindshare in CAC, but OptumInsight and Dolbey are surging in their visibility among providers, according to the report. When choosing a CAC, providers weigh different factors. The study looks at the differences between inpatient and outpatient facilities.