By Wendy Sarubbi | June 29, 2015 2:17 pm

The October 1 deadline is fast approaching for the much-anticipated switch to ICD-10 coding for medical practices. According to a recent survey, only 11 percent of providers surveyed were highly confident their employees would be adequately trained for the new coding system that verifies diagnoses and determines how physicians are reimbursed,

The UCF College of Medicine’s Regional Extension Center (REC), which helps practices navigate healthcare policy changes, says it’s unlikely the federal government will postpone ICD-10 for another year as it did in 2014.

The REC has already assisted hundreds of physicians, coders, billers and other medical professionals throughout Florida with ICD-10 transitions, process improvement and training. But officials say many practices have been slow to begin training in the complex new billing process.

Industry and government agencies are advising practices to start training now so they have ample time to testing and adapting their process before the deadline.

“Since the postponement of ICD-10 last year some physicians are reluctant to prepare now and want to wait until the fall, but that could cost them dearly come October,” said Trish Stone, the REC’s program manager for revenue cycle, training and education.

Industry experts recommend practices consider having an extended credit line for at least three months following the transition to allow for errors and backlogs in reimbursements. Inaccurate coding will result in delayed or denied claims that could particularly hurt smaller practices.

The REC offers a variety of ICD-10 training options including workshops at its corporate office, online or customized trainings for practices on-site or via remote classes. The trainings can also be tailored by specialty and to a specific audience: physicians/clinicians, experienced coders or novice coders/front office staff.

For training inquiries contact: Trish Stone at 407-309-4789 or email ICD10info@ucf-rec.org

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