Congress has delayed implementation of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) until October 2015, a one-year delay and the latest in a series of deadline pushbacks deemed necessary to allow health care providers and other stakeholders in the U.S. adequate time to implement the enormous code set. President Obama approved the implementation delay as part of HR 4302, the "Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014," which he signed into law on April 1, 2014, following passage by the Senate one day earlier.
The bill text relating to the ICD-10 delay reads: "The Secretary of Health and Human Services may not, prior to October 1, 2015, adopt ICD-10 code sets as the standard for code sets under section 1173(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320d-2(c)) and section 162.1002 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations."
As discussed by DC columnist Sam Collins in the Jan. 1, 2014 issue ("Top 5 Billing Issues for 2014"), the ICD-10CM code set is daunting in that it features more than 68,000 codes, each of which is 5-7 characters with an alpha beginning. By comparison, ICD-9CM codes only number approximately 13,000 and are 3-5 numerical digits. While proponents of the ICD-10 assert that the expanded code set will allow for greater specificity of diagnosis, among other benefits, getting practitioners, much less software programs, up to speed represents a significant challenge.
All Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) covered entities are required to transition to ICD-10, and adoption of electronic data interchange (EDI) Version 5010 (upgraded standards for electronic transmission of health care transactions) is a prerequisite.
Despite an original implementation date of Oct. 1, 2011, the ICD-10 deadline has now been pushed back multiple times. Is the Oct. 1, 2015 deadline the last – or just the latest? Look for updates as this year winds down.
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
