SALT LAKE CITY, Sep 08, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has selected advanced ICD-10 code translation technology from 3M Health Information Systems to assist the federal agency in converting systems, applications, and reports based on ICD-9 diagnosis and procedure codes into the language of ICD-10. The 3M ICD-10 Code Translation Tool will be used to streamline the code translation process and support ICD-10 transition planning at CMS headquarters in Baltimore, MD.
CMS has also licensed the software for use by its Fiscal Intermediaries (FIs), Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) and carriers to promote accurate and consistent translations from ICD-9 to ICD-10 in all of their CMS systems.
"3M has been a research contractor to CMS on the development of patient classification systems, including DRGs, for almost 30 years, so we are very pleased to take this next step in our long-standing association," said Richard Averill, Senior Vice President, Clinical and Economic Research for 3M Health Information Systems. "We look forward to assisting CMS in automating the conversion process and simplifying the detailed decisions required for complete and accurate ICD-10 translation."
ICD-10 will replace ICD-9 as the U.S. coding standard beginning October 1, 2013. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, ICD-9 no longer meets the needs of today's health care system because of its limited ability to accommodate new procedures and diagnoses.(1) "ICD-10 will bring greater accuracy and precision to payment, quality and administrative systems throughout health care," Averill noted. "Existing systems, however, will need to be converted to ICD-10 to take advantage of the rich detail available with the new code sets."
The 3M ICD-10 Code Translation Tool is a powerful web-based application designed to support code conversion of large, complex information systems and the creation of customized code mappings for specific clinical and business needs of both large health systems and standalone community hospitals. It is part of 3M's complete solution for ICD-10 transition planning, which also includes ICD-10 financial impact analysis services, ICD-10 consulting services for clinical documentation improvement, and the 3M ICD-10 Education Program, a comprehensive web-based curriculum that prepares coders, documentation improvement specialists and other essential hospital staff for the challenge of ICD-10 coding and documentation.
3M Health Information Systems is an international leader in ICD-10 classification with more than 15 years experience in developing and maintaining ICD-10 products and services around the world. In the United States, under contract with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), 3M developed the ICD-10 Procedure Coding System (PCS) and the General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs), and produced the initial conversion of MS-DRGs to ICD-10.
A branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administers the federal Medicare program and monitors the Medicaid programs offered by each state. CMS is the largest purchaser of health care in the United States, serving approximately one in three Americans.
More information about 3M ICD-10 products and services is available at www.3mhis.com/icd10 or by calling 800-367-2447.
About 3M Health Information Systems Best known for our market-leading coding system and ICD-10 expertise, 3M Health Information Systems delivers innovative software and consulting services designed to raise the bar for clinical documentation improvement, computer-assisted coding, mobile physician applications, case mix and quality outcomes reporting, and document management. Our robust healthcare data dictionary and terminology services also support the expansion and accuracy of the electronic health record (EHR) system. With nearly 30 years of healthcare industry experience and the know-how of more than 100 credentialed 3M coding experts, 3M is the go-to partner for more than 5,000 hospitals worldwide that want to improve quality and financial performance. Visit www.3MHIS.com .
3M is a trademark of 3M Company.
(1) "HHS Issues Final ICD-10 Code Sets and Updated Electronic Transaction Standards Rules," U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, January 15, 2009. Web.
SOURCE: 3M
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