CMS delays 5010 enforcement: The CMS has announced it will not begin enforcing the mandated move to Version 5010 transaction standards until after June 30. The deadline for the switch to the 5010 standards was Jan. 1. In November, the CMS announced that although it was not changing the actual deadline for complying with the standards, it would not initiate enforcement action until March 31.

HHS Announces Intent to Delay ICD-10 Compliance Date: Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen G. Sebelius says HHS will initiate a process to postpone the date by which certain health care entities have to comply with ICD-10.

Medicaid to Discontinue Sending Version 4010 Remittances Effective March 1, 2012, beginning with cycle 1803, Medicaid will no longer support Version 4010 electronic remittances (835s). All electronic remittances will be produced and sent in Version 5010 format. Cycle 1803 covers claims adjudicated from March 1, 2012 through March 7, 2012 and will have a check date of March 12, 2012. Providers who are still receiving their electronic remittance (835) in the Version 4010 format are urged to expedite their conversion efforts and make sure they will be ready to receive their remittance in the Version 5010 format. It is important that providers who utilize the services of a vendor or a billing service communicate with those partners to ensure necessary changes are initiated. Providers who may need assistance should contact the eMedNY Call Center at 1-800-343-9000. The March 1, 2012 date applies only to outbound electronic transactions (835s). New York Medicaid will continue to operate a dual system, accepting and processing inbound HIPAA Versions 4010 and 5010 and NCPDP Versions 5.1 and D.0 formats for the entire CMS Discretionary Enforcement Period of January 1, 2012 through March 31, 2012. If you have any questions or need technical assistance transitioning to the Version 5010 electronic remittance (835), please contact the eMedNY Call Center at 1-800-343-9000.

HHS Announces Intent to Delay ICD-10 Compliance Date
(Feb. 16, 2012)Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen G. Sebelius says HHS will initiate a process to postpone the date by which health care entities have to comply with ICD-10.

CMS Announces Version 5010, D.0 and 3.0 Standard Enforcement Discretion Period
CMS announced that it would not initiate enforcement action with respect to any HIPAA covered entity non-compliant with the ASC X12 Version 5010 (Version 5010), NCPDP Telecom D.0 (NCPDP D.0) and NCPDP Medicaid Subrogation 3.0 (NCPDP 3.0) standards for 90 days following the compliance date.  The enforcement discretionary period began on January 1, 2012 12 and end on March 31, 2012. View the complete statement  and enforcement FAQs for more information.

If you haven't started testing for the Version 5010 upgrade, a fact sheet  is available with steps providers can take now.

New ICD-10 Implementation Handbooks Now Available
CMS has developed four Implementation Handbooks as additional resources to assist the health care industry with the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 codes. Each guide provides detailed information for planning and executing the ICD-10 transition process.

Version 5010 Resources
CMS has developed the following fact sheets to help prepare you for the transition to Version 5010:

• FAQs: Versions 5010 and D.0 Transition Basics 
• Versions 5010, D.0, and 3.0 Overview 
• Version 5010: Testing Readiness, What You Need to Know 
• Talking to Your Vendors About ICD-10 and Version 5010 

Preparing for ICD-10
In 2013, CMS will require the use of ICD-10 for coding of diagnoses in billing/administrative transactions. The following resources may be useful:
>This timeline tool may be helpful in developing a plan for ICD 10 conversion.
>The AMA published a series of fact sheets about ICD-10.
>Additional Online Resources

• American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
• American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
• American Hospital Association (AHA)
  
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
• ICD-10 Basics for Medical Practices
• ICD-10-CM/PCS: An Introduction
• Talking to Your Vendor About ICD-10 and Version 5010: Tips for Medical Practices
• ICD-10-CM/PCS Myths & Facts
• FAQs: ICD-10 Transition Basics
• Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI)
• WEDI ICD-10 Vendor Resource Directory

White Paper Resource:

Are You Ready for the New ICD-10 and Electronic Version 5010?
Changes Start Taking Effect in January of 2012...

By: Robert J. Conroy, Esq., Denise Sanders, Esq., Matthew R. Streger, Esq., and Peter D. Espey, Esq.
The International Classification of Diseases (10th edition) (ICD-10) codes will take effect on October 1, 2013. While this may seem far off, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), physicians should begin preparing for the changes immediately. Read more