By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    UV damage to eyes
    Warning Signs of Long-Term UV Damage to Your Eyes
    December 9, 2021
    degree for healthcare job
    The Ultimate Healthcare Recruiting and Staffing Guidebook
    March 21, 2022
    medicare part d benefits
    Everything that You Need to Know About Medicare Part D
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    nursing program
    7 Tips to Picking the Best Nursing Program
    February 5, 2018
    Health Care: A Modern-Day Blade Runner?
    December 10, 2014
    Occupational Therapy Assistant | Medical Assistant | Home Health Aide
    In-Demand Healthcare Support Jobs
    April 16, 2016
    Latest News
    Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
    June 25, 2025
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 20, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Are Doctors Prepared for Impending Changes to Medical Billing Practices?
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Finance > Are Doctors Prepared for Impending Changes to Medical Billing Practices?
BusinessFinanceHospital AdministrationTechnology

Are Doctors Prepared for Impending Changes to Medical Billing Practices?

Susan Scutti
Last updated: January 2, 2014 8:22 pm
Susan Scutti
Share
5 Min Read
medical billing coding changes
SHARE

medical billing coding changesMedical billing is an intricate and international system of codes used by health care professionals — including doctors, private insurers, hospitals, Medicare, and Medicaid — when determining patients’ conditions and/or diseases as well as how much should be pai

medical billing coding changesMedical billing is an intricate and international system of codes used by health care professionals — including doctors, private insurers, hospitals, Medicare, and Medicaid — when determining patients’ conditions and/or diseases as well as how much should be paid for treatments. In a change unrelated to the new health care law, public health officials have proposed switching to a new set of codes on Oct. 1, 2014. Already some doctors as well as health care IT specialists have raised a cry and are insisting on a delay. Though it may be argued their response is merely an “anniversary reaction” to the botched deadline for the federal health insurance website, their fears are justified in at least one sense.

“If you don’t code properly, you don’t get paid,” Dr. W. Jeff Terry, a urologist in Mobile, Ala., told The New York Times. “It’s going to put a lot of doctors out of business.” He believes support staff as well as the computer systems on which they work, particularly those in small medical practices, may not be adequately prepared for an Oct. 1 deadline.

Who Decides?

The new set of codes, which are referred to as ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, tenth revision), follow from the existing codes currently in use, the ICD-9. All disease codes are currently issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), though the practice more or less officially began when a French physician introduced theBertillon Classification of Causes of Death at a congress of the International Statistical Institute in Chicago. America adopted the system in 1898; the first conference to revise an “International Classification of Causes of Death” took place in 1900; and revisions have occurred every 10 years thereafter. The original intent of a common global code is to promote comparability when collecting, processing, classifying, and presenting the causes of death and illness. In the U.S., the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) oversee all changes and modifications to the codes, which can be tweeked by each country, within limits, to suit their individual medical billing systems. Most other nations have already adopted ICD-10, if only for record-keeping purposes.

Originally, the ICD-10 was scheduled to launch in the United States this past Oct. 1, but that would have coincided with the rollout of the HealthCare.gov insurance website. A spokeswoman from CMS told The Times the agency remains committed to implementing ICD-10 on Oct. 1, 2014, and that will not change.” In comparison to the previous revision, the ICD-10 reportedly permits greater detail when describing illnesses, injuries, and treatment procedures. In turn, this should improve the recording and tracking of public health threats and trends while also expanding the capability of analyzing the effectiveness of treatments.

The American Hospital Association found in a recent survey that about 94 percent of hospitals were moderately to very confident about being ready by the Oct. 1, 2014, deadline. Yet more than half of the hospitals surveyed cited meeting the requirements of the Meaningful Use program for electronic health records (EHRs) — the specific objectives that eligible professionals and hospitals must achieve to qualify for CMS incentive programs — was the largest competing priority for ICD-10 implementation. Additionally, some hospitals suggested that external factors, such as timely testing and the receipt of necessary upgrades from vendors, might also threaten ICD-implementation. Nevertheless, most believe health care professionals will be both practiced and prepared for this necessary change when the deadline looms.

(shutterstock)

TAGGED:billingICD-10
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

women dental care
What Is a Smile Makeover and How Much Does It Cost?
Dental health
June 30, 2025
HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps
Top HIPAA-Compliant Messaging Apps for Healthcare Teams
Global Healthcare Policy & Law Technology
June 25, 2025
recovering from injury
Rebuilding After Injury: Path to Physical and Emotional Recovery
News
June 22, 2025
scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025

You Might also Like

New Pure Hydrocodone Pain Killer Drug Being Developed

December 27, 2011

Calling for More Than an Ounce of Prevention

November 1, 2012

Lucky Super Market Adds on a Blue Shield Health Insurance Store

November 8, 2011

E-Prescribing: Garbage In, Garbage Out

May 16, 2011
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?