Linking ICD-10 and the Future of HCIT

With only 18 months left until the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ICD-10 implementation deadline, pressure to comply is mounting for a vast array of healthcare constituents.  ICD-10, or International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10^th Revision, is a medical code set used to standardize both diagnoses (ICD-10-CM) and procedures (ICD-10-PCS).  Mandated to replace the existing ICD-9 standards on October 1, 2013, its been well documented that ICD-10 will provide a level of clinical granularity far exceeding that of it

With only 18 months left until the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ICD-10 implementation deadline, pressure to comply is mounting for a vast array of healthcare constituents.  ICD-10, or International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10^th Revision, is a medical code set used to standardize both diagnoses (ICD-10-CM) and procedures (ICD-10-PCS).  Mandated to replace the existing ICD-9 standards on October 1, 2013, its been well documented that ICD-10 will provide a level of clinical granularity far exceeding that of its predecessor; and as shown below a vast increase in the sheer number of codes.

The implementation deadline has spurred some debate.  James Madard, Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Medical Association (AMA), recently wrote a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asking her to halt the ICD-10 implementation process.  “The timing of the ICD-10 transition…,” Madard wrote, “… could not be worse as many physicians are currently spending significant time and resources implementing electronic health records into their practices.”

Madard alludes to an issue that is central to both payers and providers which are that multiple Healthcare IT guidelines (ICD-10, HITECH, etc.) will need to be smoothly and quickly implemented to ensure proper reimbursement and avoid heavy government penalties.  The ICD-10 concerns for providers are becoming a boon to vendors, as solutions ranging from data analytics and terminology management to consumer focused solutions are enjoying strong demand.

In our view, vendors need not worry that an extended deadline will curb this demand.  As the healthcare universe shifts from fee-for-service to capitation and bundled-care reimbursement models, innovative technology will be a chief driver in achieving cost reduction.  In addition, we’re recommending that vendors align their business strategy and product offerings around three initiatives:

1. Effectively working with Channel partners to provide bundled “end-to-end” solutions that satisfy reporting requirements for multiple federal mandates
2. Creating flexible product platforms that can be easily integrated into legacy systems (and updated as necessary)
3. Stay out ahead of government regulation and build organizational agility that can meet changing client demands

Let us know what you think.

Jeff Farnell

Jeff Farnell is an Analyst at TripleTree covering the healthcare industry, with a specialization in revenue cycle management, compliance and tech-enabled business solutions. You can email him at jfarnell@triple-tree.com.