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cme Activity One Year and Counting to ICD-10 By Sally Combest, MD, DABA T no delay in the Oct. 1, 2014 implementation of ICD-10. This change affects every healthcare provider and facility covered by HIPAA. Physicians — many of whom are hesitant to incorporate ICD-10 — can have a smooth transition with planning. The new ICD-10 system provides a better method of reporting the severity and complexity of medical conditions. The number of codes rises dramatically, but the impact on your practice will depend upon your specialty. ICD10-CM (clinical modification) codes for diagnoses and will be used in all healthcare settings, while ICD-10-PCS (procedure coding system) applies to inpatient procedure coding only. HErE WIll bE How to Prepare Obtain a 2014 coding book and translate your most commonly used ICD-9 codes to ICD-10, or purchase the "General Equivalency Mappings," a CMS crosswalk tool. Some EHRs already have this double-data set. Document more completely. Update your templates and superbills. Train your staff. What updates and costs are required for your EHR, and how much tech 14 | San Antonio MD News ■ mDnEWS.COm support will be provided? Will your clearinghouses and coding and billing services be able to submit your claims? Quickly submit your pre-changeover claims to ensure they are processed before third-party payer backlog occurs. Will your affiliated facilities and laboratories be ready? Do the third-party payers have rules for coverage and authorizations set? Finally, have an extra cash fund or lines of credit to assure smooth practice management during the transition. After witnessing the consequences of poor revenue cycle management (RCM) on practices and hospitals during her career, Sally Combest, MD, DA BA founded PriMedicus Consulting Inc., a medical billing company that offers RCM built upon a physician's understanding of today's healthcare environment and with the addition of medical knowledge. Contact her for more information at s.combest@primedicusconsulting.com Dannemiller Inc. began in 1984 as the Dannemiller Memorial Educational Foundation in San Antonio, Texas, where it remains today. Widely known for its annual anesthesiolog y and pain management review courses, Dannemiller has become a leader in continuing medical education. The company annually accredits more than 250 medical education programs and provides over 88,000 credit hours in a wide variety of therapeutic categories. In 2013, Dannemiller was awarded Accreditation with Commendation by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Education (ACCME), a f ull six-year accreditation that is the highest level awarded by the ACCME. Dannemiller has been an accredited provider through the ACCME and California Board of Registered Nursing for 29 years. In 2009, Dannemiller became accredited by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Accreditation Council on Phar mac y Educat ion and the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Today, Dannemiller continues to expand its offering to a wide range of specialties in the medical community. The company's educational offerings encompass a multitude of delivery modalities including: one-hour to multi-day on-site and regional courses; live lectures and hands-on demonstrations; interactive, computer-based simulations/role playing and case studies; online articles, abstracts, monographs, case studies, slideshows and webinars; portable media for iPod, iPad, DVD, and USB; and a variety of online testing databases. ■