CD-10 goes into effect on Oct. 1, 2015. To ensure that your practice is ready for the transition, take the TEAM approach!

Test
Contact software vendors and clearinghouses to make sure that they are ready for the transition. Inquire about testing and steps your practice needs to take to ensure successful claims submissions. This will help avoid any delays in reimbursement.

Educate
It is not too early to begin educating staff on ICD-10 coding. Billing and coding staff should have an education plan in place. Webinars and coding classes are available to assist in learning the new coding classification system. All office staff should receive ICD-10 education. Make sure to tailor the level of training to job functionality.

Assess
Set specific checkpoints along the way to ensure the ICD-10 implementation plan is on target for the Oct. 1 deadline. Determine if staff is comfortable with ICD-10 coding and make adjustments to provide additional education if necessary. Make sure to assess the status of the plan frequently to allow time to add additional resources or educational opportunities prior to the “go-live” date. Contact vendors to ensure they have upgraded all of their software, have tested their systems, and are on track for the conversion.

Manage
Managing the implementation plan and creating a budget is imperative. Staying on top of vendor and insurance carrier readiness and office staffing needs will ensure a smooth transition to ICD-10.

Cindy Bracy, MPH, RHIA, CCS-P, is the manager, practice management affairs, in the AAOS department of electronic media, evaluation programs, course operations, and practice management. She can be reached at bracy@aaos.org

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Table 1: The Team approach