WEDI, CMS and Industry Partners to Launch ICD-10 Implementation Success Initiative

Reston, VA (PRWEB) December 19, 2013

The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI), a leading authority on the use of Health IT to improve healthcare information exchange, is partnering with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and other public and private organizations to develop an ICD-10 Implementation Success Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to ensure a successful ICD-10 implementation for all healthcare industry stakeholders including healthcare providers, payers, clearinghouses and vendors. Other industry partners participating in the ICD-10 Implementation Success Initiative include AAPC, American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), American Osteopathic Association (AOA), Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), Cooperative Exchange, Healthcare Billing Management Association (HBMA), Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), National Association of Rural Health Clinics (NARHC), and Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM).

Similar to the successful WEDI, CMS and industry collaboration during the ASC X12 5010 implementation, this initiative will form a coalition of partners to support the industry as it strives for full compliance with the new ICD-10 coding standards due to become effective on October 1, 2014.

“We look forward to collaborating with WEDI and its partners on the ICD-10 Implementation Success Initiative,” said Robert Tagalicod, Director of the Office of E-Health Standards and Services at CMS. “We appreciate WEDI’s work in leading this effort and of all the partners for their cooperation. By working together, sharing knowledge and collaborating, this initiative will become a valuable resource for industry issues as we move toward the ICD-10 transition.”

“The consortium developed by the new ICD-10 Implementation Success Initiative will help ensure the successful implementation of ICD-10 by serving as a hub to field questions regarding ICD-10 and to develop a coordinated education effort regarding ICD-10 implementation,” explained Devin Jopp, WEDI president and CEO. “By collaborating with CMS and other industry partners, we can work effectively together to unite resources to help provide the most comprehensive support and resources industry wide.”

The new ICD-10 Implementation Success Initiative is comprised of several different elements, including a searchable database of ICD-10 issues which is open to the public for submission. WEDI, CMS and their partners will help to triage issues and provide valuable information and resources to help healthcare organizations understand how the new codes and coding standards will impact diagnosis and inpatient procedures. A series of educational webinars and articles will also be created to highlight prominent ICD-10 conversion issues and trends. The ICD-10 searchable database can be found here.

For more information about the ICD-10 Implementation Success Initiative, please contact Leanne Cardwell at lcardwell(at)wedi(dot)org, (202) 618-8789. For more information on ICD-10 compliance steps, please visit WEDI ICD-10 Information.

About WEDI
The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) is the leading authority on the use of Health IT to improve healthcare information exchange in order to enhance the quality of care, improve efficiency, and reduce costs of our nation’s healthcare system. WEDI was formed in 1991 by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) and was designated in the 1996 HIPAA legislation as an advisor to HHS. WEDI’s membership includes a broad coalition of organizations, including: hospitals, providers, health plans, vendors, government agencies, consumers, not-for-profit organizations, and standards bodies. To learn more, visit http://www.wedi.org, or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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