Nursing's Role in ICD-10 & Meaningful Use
On Oct. 1, 2013, in between the meaningful use stages 2 and 3,
compliance is mandated for the implementation of the International
Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, or ICD-10.
ICD-10 has been used by most other countries since 1989.
The impact is NOT limited to medical records coding or physicians'
documentation and billing. Yes, the impact on coding for medical records
staff is significant (going from 13,000 codes to 120,000), but the
revenue cycle will be affected, and the documentation required of
physicians will be impacted - and the impact does not stop there.
Clinical charging and clinical documentation will also be affected.
While most people think of ICD as a coding system for billing, Dan Rode says, "ICD-10 will allow more automated, computer-assisted coding - and coders will turn into editors."
How will nurses be impacted? Any charting that is used by coders for
billing will need to include clearer details. ICD-10 requires more
details in clinical documentation for problems, assessments, procedures
and treatments. Mark Sugrue, RN-BC, gives the example of pressure ulcers. With ICD-9, there were nine codes, with ICD-10 there are over 125 codes.
Nurses will be collaborating on meeting the requirements for both
ICD-10 and Meaningful Use. Nurses who specialize in informatics will be
working with interdisciplinary teams to modify clinical documentation
and workflow to achieve the rigor necessary to meet these challenges and
more.
How has your place of work been affected by the meaningful use
requirements and ICD-10? Who is working to meet these needs, and how
can you help?
