Attempts to impact the ICD-10 transition keep coming with a third attempt in about a month now aiming to provide a two-year grace period for providers submitting claims. 

An ICD-10 contingency plan is needed in case the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is unable to process the new codes, members of Congress said in a letter to Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—June 3, 2015—To help hospital organizations and physician practices convert systems, reports and records into the language of ICD-10, 3M has released a new version of the 3M ICD-10 Code Translation Tool, which has been expanded to include Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) and other HCPCS codes.

Providers, clearinghouses and billing agencies have “successfully” participated in the second ICD-10 end-to-end testing week, held April 27 through May 1, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Timing and technology go hand in hand. Inventory all systems that currently include ICD-9 codes, Enos said. Working with your IS support team, finalize system changes, plans to test systems after the transition, monitor coding and reimbursement accuracy. “New technology also can boost productivity to help offset the losses that will occur during and after the transition.” 

The big health IT news this week is the likelihood that National Coordinator Karen DeSalvo, MD, MPH, MSc, is likely moving on now that she’s been nominated as assistant secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Another ICD-10 readiness survey finds that just 11 percent of respondents are "highly confident" their employees will be adequately trained and 13 percent are "highly confident" their business will be prepared.

It's not over yet folks--a bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that would prohibit the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services from replacing ICD-9 with ICD-10.