Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles has been planning for the ICD-10 transition since April 2012. The hospital began ICD-10 implementation this month, a full year ahead of the compliance deadline, according to a HIMSS report.
By March 2014, coders will code exclusively in ICD-10, while the billing system will continue to use ICD-9 for claims. The coders have already started training, and backup coders will code in ICD-9 as necessary to keep billing on track while the hospital's regular coders learn and practice ICD-10. By the October 2014 deadline, coders will have 6-7 months of experience in ICD-10 without compromising accounts receivable, according to the report.
Departmental ICD-10 training for clinicians is also underway to instruct on providing appropriate documentation for ICD-10 coding and pertinent codes, according to the report.
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