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Ok, 5010 First...
Yes, it is a bit annoying and not as fun as everyone hoped it would be, but it is the necessary precursor to ICD-10. If you don't know what 5010 is, you are really late and at risk of not having payments or being fined. Run a search on our blog or on Google and catch up. 5010 is not a new concept and it is vital to your well-being.
5010 Redux...
Despite this not being a new concept, like all broad-spectrum changes there are bumps in the road, crazy storms, and unanticipated (and anticipated) problems at all levels of 5010 implementation. Your best defense is a good offense! We are working continuously with Blue Cross here in Michigan and with clearing houses across the country as they change and adjust their systems to the 5010 format. Many of the clearing houses are basically “live” testing as they implement, stressing everyone out.
I cannot stress enough that you need to bookmark and visit our Genius 5010 page often. The fabulous support team has been working with you and the clearing houses to make this all work out, often posting updates and new wisdom- daily. My recommendation to you would be check often and check before you call in to support. They may have already posted an answer to your questions or the current status of those questions. Being in the know yourselves helps us to spend more quality time with you when you have something that hasn’t been answered and to work with the clearing houses to ease your claims’ way. Many of you have previously weathered the changes that came about with ANSI and NPI and know that things will settle down shortly and life will go on.
Speaking of going on… how are your ICD-10 prep plans moving along?
I know, the ICD-10 changes do not go into effect until October 2013, but at this point – we are in February of 2012, that makes ICD-10 very relevant – IT IS NEXT YEAR! Can you believe it? The last couple of years have really flown with 5010, EHR stimulus, and well, you just being the fabulous doctors that you are.
The AMA (American Medical Association) is trying to get ICD-10 put off. I know we’ve all seen things “pushed” back before and many of you may be holding your breaths or ducking your heads trying to wait it out, but ICD-10 was already pushed off once. The speed, determination, and effort the government has put into both 5010 and EHR stimulus tells me that ICD-10 is coming and I believe that it is inevitable (truth be told – sooner than later). There are organizations that are worried that with the AMA’s push and people’s general dislike of change that far too many offices are not beginning to prepare for ICD-10 and they are trying to warn people to get with the program. Even if for some reason ICD-10 got a bit of a stall, the term “inevitable” still comes back to the forefront of the discussion. EHR implementation and 5010 are the building blocks for ICD-10. Type ICD-10 into our blog search and you will find many articles on what it is, why it’s important, and what you can be doing now to prepare. Fight for yourselves and be your own best solution. Your patients and your patience will both be better for the preparation.
My opening question was “Is it a good fight?” Despite 5010, ICD-10, and EHR meaningful use all being “inevitable”, in the end all three will be what we make of it. Is it a pain to change? You bet! Is it an opportunity to fine tune and evolve your offices into better places to work and serve patients? I believe so. Can this possibly help improve your patients (and your quality of life), yes. Will it be easy or happen overnight? Definitely not. But these can be good changes if you embrace them and make them work for you, rather than vice versa. So, skip joining the bandwagon, and hitch up your turbo-powered big rig and take the lead.
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