Health Language Signs Agreement with Blue Cross and Blue Shield for ICD-10 Transition

The Denver-based Health Language Inc. (HLI), a medical and administrative terminology management provider, announced that the Chicago-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) has selected HLI as a preferred vendor to help Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies transition smoothly and efficiently from ICD-9 to ICD-10 by the Oct. 1, 2013, deadline mandated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). BCBSA selected HLI after a rigorous evaluation process based on its proven expertise, out-of-the box tools, and methodologies that will enable the Blue companies to increase mapping efficiency, improve outcomes, decrease errors, and optimize personnel, financial and operational resources.

HLI will offer LEAP I-10, which utilizes HLI’s flagship Language Engine (LE) technology, to provide robust, powerful web-based tools that facilitate the transition to ICD-10. LEAP I-10 can create real-world migration simulations using Blue companies’ actual data from benefit plans, medical policies, provider contracts and other sources to assess the potential impact of the transition and identify risk mitigation options at a granular, actionable level. Based on the results of the initial GEMs mapping, custom maps that add or delete ICD-10 codes can easily be developed and tested to address individual Blue Plan’s needs as well as to evaluate payment neutrality and satisfy risk management requirements for BCBSA.