Healthcare providers need to switch to HIPAA 5010 transactions by January 1, 2012, meaning they ought to be testing their systems with the new standards by the beginning of 2011, based on recommendations from CMS and others. Meantime, they should at least be planning for implementation of ICD-10 coding, which becomes mandatory in October 2013.
But some management systems vendors still haven't updated their software to comply with 5010 and ICD-10. "We are very disappointed with the apparent delays from our software vendors. Some are indicating ICD-10 upgrades at very late dates. All are indicating late dates for 5010 upgrades," one unnamed project manager is quoted as saying in Healthcare IT News.
"We are at the mercy of the vendors for timing, and these are not small vendors," the anonymous project manager adds. "We're the ones who get the penalty for a non-compliant claim."
But vendors may not be totally to blame. "Since technology changes are secondary to procedural changes, I would argue if we are gauging the industry we could just as easily argue providers won't be ready on time," Capgemini healthcare consultant Tori Sullivan, chair of the HIMSS ICD-10 Task Force, retorts.
Even if the software updates aren't ready, there is plenty providers can and should be doing to get ready for the update. "While the task of converting vendor's systems is considerable, it pales by comparison to the changes needed in the business and clinical processes that use the systems," Frank Reilly, senior consultant at the Hazen Group, explains. "This transition goes far beyond systems vendors making changes to software. Every provider and payer, to one degree or another, needs to think about how their business is going to change--and prepare."
For further details:
- have a look at this Healthcare IT News story