Urgent care physicians and providers preparing for a move to ICD-10 may have an additional 12 months to implement the new diagnostic and procedural codes. In a voice vote March 27, proponents of an ICD-10 delay moved one step closer to receiving a postponement in ICD-10 implementation.
In a surprise move, House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid worked late Tuesday night, coming up with the SGR patch which included language delaying the implementation of ICD-10. The main focus of the bill is to extend Medicare payments to physicians and other Medicare programs impacted by SGR. The section related to ICD-10 reads as follows:
SEC. 212. DELAY IN TRANSITION FROM ICD–9 TO ICD–10 CODE SETS
The Secretary of Health and Human Services may not, prior to October 1, 2015, adopt ICD–10 code sets as the standard for code sets under section 1173(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320d–2(c)) and section 162.1002 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations.
The House of Representatives first delayed the vote this morning, then reconvened for a voice vote that passed the patch for Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR), containing a provision to delay ICD-10 until October 1, 2015. The Senate has yet to pass the bill and President Obama’s signature is required for it to become law.
Practice Velocity will ensure the clients who use our VelociDoc® Electronic Medical Record (EMR), PVM Practice Management System and PV Billing Services will meet ICD-10 requirements according to the government’s timeline.
