CMS, AAPC partner to conduct 'Code-A-Thon' webinar for health care providers

AAPC (www.aapc.com) is collaborating with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to plan and conduct an AAPC-sponsored ICD-10 "Code-A-Thon" webinar on Tuesday, April 26, 2011. The free event is a forum for health care providers and industry professionals to learn about the ICD-10 transition, and to get their ICD-10 coding questions answered by AAPC coding experts.

The event filled up within hours of its initial announcement, but the presentations, recording, and transcript will be available for people to view on the CMS website no later than two weeks after the Code-A-Thon.

Among the key topics:

• What is ICD-10 and Version 5010 and why are the transitions occurring
• Examples of complex diagnosis coding situations
• How AAPC training is preparing the industry for ICD-10 implementation
• Best practices and ideal plans for health care professionals

The schedule includes 50 minutes of presentations from both CMS and AAPC, followed by a two-hour, live Q-and-A session open to the public.

"AAPC knows that 'ICD-10 will Change Everything' and will change the way coders conduct their daily business.  AAPC wants to get the word out about the transition to ICD-10," said Deborah Grider, president and CEO for AAPC. "We feel very fortunate to work with CMS on this special event to get those difficult and confusing questions about ICD-10 out in the open. We don't need to fear ICD-10, but we do need to prepare for it and this is a great start to that preparation."

"The transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 codes requires both business and system changes throughout the health care industry. Therefore, it is important for providers, payers, and vendors to start preparing now," stated Denise Buenning, Director, Administrative Simplification Group, at the CMS Office of E-Health Standards and Services. "The ICD-10 Code-A-Thon is an opportunity for individuals to learn about the transition, and the resources available from both AAPC and CMS so they can kick start their ICD-10 implementation efforts."  

On January 16, 2009, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final rule mandating that all entities covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) must implement ICD-10 for medical coding on October 1, 2013. CMS is the agency within HHS that is charged with implementing the ICD-10 regulation.