CONTACT: Jim Schuping
(703) 391-2716
e-mail: [email protected]
Nov. 1, 2011- The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) conducted an industry ICD‐10 readiness survey in August 2011 - the fifth such survey since 2009. Results show that healthcare entities are falling behind recommended timelines for implementing the required ICD‐10 code sets by the October 1, 2013 compliance date. The survey included health care providers, software vendors, clearinghouses, and health plans. Responses indicated that although some progress is being made, each segment of the industry is not keeping up with milestones, which would assure on time implementation by October 2013. At risk is having enough time to fully test software and processes to assure that they will be working correctly by the compliance deadline.
Most vendors indicated that they expect to finish testing in 2012 and deliver products to customers by the second half of 2012. The vendors expressed confidence in delivering products in time for customers to meet the compliance date. Some vendors reported that their customers are not yet focused on ICD‐10, so interest is low.
Most health plans have not completed a full impact analyses although the timeline recommends completion in January 2011. Approximately two thirds of the plans indicated that they would not be ready for external testing until sometime after the recommended date of January 2013.
Most providers also reported being behind on completing their impact analyses, and three quarters indicated that they also would not be ready to test by the January 2013 recommended date.
Respondents expressed a common theme that other industry mandates such as implementing a new version of transactions and implementation of electronic health records was causing competition for budget dollars and personnel. Although organizations are aware of the diminishing timeframe, they are unable to devote their full efforts toward ICD‐10 compliance. In addition, there is need for increased communication among trading partners and business associates.
Jim Schuping, the CEO/President of WEDI stated "These results are showing that the industry is not progressing quickly enough on the timeline to assure us that they will be ready in October 2013. We would urge entities to increase their implementation effort or we will be facing an extremely difficult situation in 2013."
WEDI's ICD‐10 Resources
WEDI has an extensive workgroup structure addressing industry‐wide ICD‐10 implementation concerns and a variety of their work products is available to the public. More information on WEDI ICD‐10 activities can be found at www.wedi.org.
About WEDI
WEDI, a broad based healthcare industry coalition, brings together a consortium of leaders within the healthcare industry to identify practical strategies for reducing administrative costs in healthcare through the implementation of EDI. WEDI's mission is to provide multi‐stakeholder leadership and guidance to the healthcare industry on how to use and leverage the industry's collective technology, knowledge, expertise and information resources to improve the administrative efficiency, quality and cost effectiveness of healthcare information. Visit www.wedi.org for more information