Provider Resources

What is ICD-10?

ICD refers to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code sets. The health care industry uses these codes for patient diagnoses and inpatient procedures.  Right now, the United States uses the Ninth Edition of these code sets (ICD-9). You may see a list of these codes on the superbill in your office.

On October 1, 2014, the U.S. health care industry will transition from ICD-9 to the Tenth Edition of these code sets (ICD-10).  From registration and referrals to superbills and software upgrades, the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 will change how you do business.  But that change doesn’t have to be overwhelming. To help you get ready, CMS has tips, resources, and steps to help your practice prepare for the transition. 

Understanding the Basics

The following fact sheets can help make sure you understand the basics of ICD-10, helping you get ready to start the transition.

• ICD-10 FAQs
• The ICD-10 Transition: An Introduction
• ICD-10 Basics for Medical Practices
• Talking to Your Vendors About ICD-10: Tips for Medical Practices

Getting Started: Steps Providers Should Take to Begin the Transition

Once you know the basics, these steps can help you get started with the transition. Click on a step to learn more.
1. Tell your staff/coworkers about upcoming changes and create an ICD-10 project management team.
2. Identify how ICD-10 will affect your practice.
3. Develop a plan for implementing ICD-10 in your office.
4. Estimate and secure budget (possible costs include updates to practice management systems, new coding guides and superbills, staff training).
5. Ask vendors about ICD-10 readiness; review vendor contracts/proposals.
6. Talk to your payers to be sure they are moving forward with ICD-10 planning—you will want to work together to make sure you meet the deadline.

Tools to Help with Your Transition

As you move along the steps toward the transition to ICD-10, the following tools can help you make a plan that fits your health care practice.

Implementation Guides, Timelines, and Checklists

Whether you are just beginning your transition, or are in the middle of making the change, the following CMS implementation guides provide step-by-step tips to help you make the change to ICD-10. The implementation guides are available as downloadable PDFs below. The guides include timelines and checklists to help you plan your transition. For easy reference, you can download and print the timelines and checklists as stand-alone documents.

• Small/Medium Practices
o Implementation Guide
o Timeline
o Checklist

• Large Practices
o Implementation Guide
o Timeline
o Checklist

• Small Hospitals 
o Implementation Guide
o Timeline
o Checklist

Medscape Modules
Access two free Medscape Education modules and an expert article that provide practical tips for the ICD-10 transition. Continuing medical education (CME) credits are available to physicians who complete the modules, but anyone can take them and receive a certificate of completion.

CMS Video Presentations

Watch these video presentations for more tips and guidance

• 2012 AAPC Annual Conference Video Presentation
• AHIMA ICD-10 Educational Video
• CMS-AAPC ICD-10 Code-a-thon: CMS PowerPoint, AAPC PowerPoint, transcript, video, and audio.