An Extra Year to Get Ready for ICD-10

Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has announced a proposed rule that would delay the compliance deadline for implementation / use of International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD-10) diagnosis and procedure codes for a full year, from Oct. 1, 2013 to Oct. 1, 2014. The compliance delay is part of a larger proposed rule that also "simplifies the administrative process for providers by proposing that health plans have a unique identifier of a standard length and format to facilitate routine use in computer systems," according to the HHS. For additional information regarding the ICD-10 and compliance specifics, visit www.cms.gov and enter "ICD-10" in the search field.