You should consider the following checklist to help keep your efforts on track with your transition:
- Educate staff and leadership about ICD-10
-Appoint an ICD-10 coordination manager and delegate a steering committee to manage the transition
- Train staff on changes in documentation requirements from health plans and how this will affect work flow - Perform an impact assessment
- Examine existing uses of ICD-9 codes in order determine aspects of work flow and business practices that ICD-10 will potentially change. Be sure to evaluate planned and ongoing projects as well
- Create a list of staff members who need ICD-10 resources and training, such as billing and coding staff, clinicians, management, and IT staff - Plan a realistic and comprehensive budget
- Estimate a budget that includes costs such as software, hardware, staff training, and any initial change in patient volume - Coordinate with external partners
- Contact system vendors, clearinghouses, and billing services to assess their readiness and evaluate current contracts
- Ask your vendors how they will support you in the transition to ICD-10 and request a timeline and cost estimate
- Analyze existing health plan trading partner agreements - Get ready for testing
- Request a testing plan to schedule from your vendor
- Conduct internal testing within your clinical practice as well external testing with payers and other external business partners after you have completed the planning stages
