In the final weeks before ICD-10 becomes the new coding reality on Oct. 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and NCTracks, which processes Medicaid claims for the state, have been flooding the Internet with resources and answers to questions about the transition. Here is a partial compilation of what has been published recently to help you successfully navigate the change. To get the latest delivered directly to your inbox, subscribe to CMS messages and/or NCTracks email updates.
CMS has published Five More Facts About ICD-10, including what to do if you can’t submit ICD-10 claims electronically and what happens if you’re not ready on Oct. 1. Also check out their list of FAQs. If you’re a visual learner, CMS provides a video outlining the myths and common misperceptions about ICD-10. Watch “10 Facts About ICD-10.”
Mark your calendar for the CMS’ national provider call “Countdown to ICD-10” to be held on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 2:30-4 p.m. ET. It’s sure to be popular so register now. The call will open with a national implementation update. Then, Sue Bowman from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and Nelly Leon-Chisen from the American Hospital Association (AHA) will be joining us with coding guidance and tips, along with updates from CMS. The target audience includes physicians as well as office staff and coders.
If you haven’t even begun the process, CMS offers a Quick Start Guide, but hurry, time is running short.
For those who file Medicaid claims through NCTracks, the folks there offer the following information:

  • The date of service determines whether you use ICD-9 or ICD-10 codes on the claim, regardless of when the claim is submitted. Submit an ICD-9 claim for dates of service before Oct. 1, and an ICD-10 claim for dates of service on and after Oct. 1.
  • You can find the answer to many common ICD-10 questions on the ICD-10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page of the NCTracks Provider Portal.
  • Claims with ICD-10 codes will be accepted by NCTracks beginning Oct. 1, 2015, and no sooner, per federal mandate.
  • ICD-9 codes and ICD-10 codes cannot be used on the same claim. However, claims with ICD-9 codes and claims with ICD-10 codes can be submitted in the same batch.
  • Registration is now open for an instructor-led ICD-10 training course for providers. The same course is being offered on multiple dates in August 2015. This course will be taught via WebEx and can be attended remotely from any location with a telephone, computer and internet connection. The WebEx will be limited to 115 participants. The course will be offered on:

Wednesday, August 12 – 9 to 9:45 a.m. 

Friday, August 21 – 2 to 2:45 p.m. 

Friday, August 28 – 10 to 10:45 a.m. 

Enrollment Instructions:
Providers can register for this course in SkillPort, the NCTracks Learning Management System. Logon to the secure NCTracks Provider Portal and click Provider Training to access SkillPort. Open the folder labeled Provider Computer-Based Training (CBT) and Instructor Led Training (ILT). The course can be found in the sub-folder labeled ILTs: Remote via WebEx.  Refer to the Provider Training page of the public Provider Portal for specific instructions on how to use SkillPort. The Provider Training page also includes a quick reference regarding Java, which is required for the use of SkillPort.