CMS: Final ICD-10 end-to-end testing week successful

Medicare claims processing systems are ready to accept ICD-10 claims on Oct. 1, based on results from the third ICD-10 end-to-end testing week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced yesterday. About 1,200 health care providers and billing companies submitted more than 29,000 test claims. “Overall, participants in the July end-to-end testing week were able to successfully submit ICD-10 test claims and have them processed through Medicare billing systems,” the agency said. “The acceptance rate for July was similar to the rates in January and April, but with an increase in the number of testers and test claims submitted. Most of the claim rejections that occurred were due to errors unrelated to ICD-9 or ICD-10.” This was the final end-to-end testing week, but providers are encouraged to participate in acknowledgement testing, which can be completed at any time prior to the implementation date. Health care claims must include ICD-10 codes for medical diagnoses and inpatient hospital procedures beginning Oct. 1. CMS yesterday named as its new ICD-10 ombudsman William Rogers, M.D., director of the agency’s Physicians Regulatory Issues Team. Rogers is tasked with addressing concerns from hospitals, physicians and other providers during and after the transition to ICD-10. For more on the transition to ICD-10, including a checklist for the ICD-10 homestretch, visit www.aha.org or www.cms.gov.