BALTIMORE – April 25, 2013 – Stating that ICD-10 is an essential component to tracking more detailed healthcare data and strengthening a national health information infrastructure, Denise Buenning, MsM, Deputy Director of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Office of E-Health Standards and Services, reiterated Wednesday that the October 1, 2014 ICD-10 compliance date remains in place.
“CMS is dedicated to the transition to ICD-10,” said Buenning at the ICD-10 CM/PCS and CAC Summit sponsored by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). “Given that ICD-10 is essential to greater interoperability, information sharing and ultimately providing better patient care and lowering healthcare costs, we are continuing to move forward with our ICD-10 implementation efforts in full anticipation of the October 1, 2014 compliance date.”
ICD-10 is an integral part of CMS’ E-Health initiative, which includes meaningful use, electronic quality measures and payment reform. Buenning said that ICD-10 implementation will make clinical records come alive, adding that the increased detail from the ICD-10 codes will provide a more accurate assessment of population health.
“As the ICD-10 compliance date moves closer, AHIMA will remain focused on helping organizations prepare for implementation,” said AHIMA CEO Lynne Thomas Gordon, MBA, RHIA, CAE, FACHE, FAHIMA. “HIM professionals recognize the importance of ICD-10 in sharing accurate and robust information as well as managing that information to ensure it is used effectively.”
Pointing to CMS’ comprehensive implementation plan, Buenning added that the Medicare implementation of ICD-10 is on track for the October 2014 compliance date, but will continue to work in partnership with industry to assist all health care segments, and especially small providers, with making a successful transition to ICD-10.
