Experts predict the conversion from ICD-9 to ICD-10 could very well eclipse Y2K in scope. Keeping your Orthopedic Surgery revenue cycle management in motion before, during and after the Oct. 1, 2014 ICD-10 transition relies squarely on you, your team’s preparedness and the expertise of your Orthopedic coding and billing team.
The ICD-10 conversion means significant changes to office procedures, which are expected to affect every aspect of business operations. It also requires you to increase your level of medical record documentation across all aspects of service. More patient data will be collected and documented to justify codes submitted for claims.
Take, for example, the changes for Orthopedic Surgery practices when it comes to coding for fractures. They will become more complicated to code because physicians now will have five classifications rather than just open or closed. The following illustrates a change:
ICD-9-CM code: 813:52 other open fracture of distal end of radius (alone)
Vs.
ICD-10-CM code: S52.571M other intra articular fracture of lower end of right radius, subsequent encounter for open fracture type I or II with non-union
For all codes related to fractures of the radius, ICD-9 included 32 codes. In ICD-10-CM, there are 1,731.
There are risks and challenges for your practice that accompany this transition. Mitigating these and knowing to what degree your Orthopedic Surgery revenue cycle management will be impacted are critical aspects of your preparation.
Risks/challenges include:
- More detailed medical records
- More time to translate/interpret by coders
- Increased provider queries by coders
- Increased delays in authorizations
- Increased claim rejections
- More time to research/resolve reimbursement issues
- Increased queries for documentation by facilities
- Same notes used in facility and office
Outsourcing your Orthopedic Surgery medical coding, billing and collections, when you have the right partner, gives you the industry insider expertise your team needs to ensure your risk is minimized and your revenue is maximized as you implement these changes.
It takes the special expertise of an industry insider in Orthopedic Surgery revenue cycle management to understand how to most effectively transition to ICD-10. revMD.com has the products and services required to become your expert partner in Orthopedic Surgery medical coding, billing and collections, ensuring that your practice:
- Organizes the effort
- Analyzes the impact
- Contacts the vendors
- Budgets for costs
- Implements software and systems upgrades
- Conducts internal testing
- Trains staffs
- Conducts external testing of transactions
- Keep revenue flowing
- Maximize revenue stream
revMD.com has the expertise in Orthopedic Surgery billing and coding required to offer the full extent of support to your team as you prepare for conversion. revMD.com’s comprehensive education/training staff training program and a full cadre of services and products provide the tools for success and all the control to maintain and grow your practice.
revMD.com’s proven results in Orthopedic Surgery medical coding, billing and collections includes greater levels of reimbursement for in-office joint injections and supplies, fracture care and splint/cast applications and supplies. revMD.com has special expertise in Complex NCCI edits and anatomical modifiers, unleashing your practice’s true revenue potential.
revMD.com is the results-proven alternative for medical practice revenue cycle management, with a niche specialization in Orthopedic Surgery billing and coding that generates unprecedented results and builds profitable medical practices. Leveraging a history of industry wide success spanning 25 years, revMD.com partners with medical practices throughout the U.S. to optimize revenue for hospital based and practice based physicians. For more information, visit www.revmd.com.