The Heart Rhythm Society has added its name to a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Michael O. Leavitt (Adobe PDF, 10K), which advocates for a reasonable timeframe for transition to ICD-10-CM.

The letter does not call for a specific implementation date, rather, it urges for support of a workable timeframe that would allow for the next generation of HIPAA electronic transactions (ANSI X12 version 5010) to be implemented before ICD-10-CM. There is significant concern with rapidly replacing the ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure billing codes with ICD-10-CM/PCS codes for current uses of ICD-9-CM Volumes, I, II and III.

The transition to ICD-10-CM will require critical education and training for physicians and coders, and costly technology and software to assist with proper coding. This timeframe, we believe, will allow for a successful conversion.

Detailed information about ICD-10-CM is available at www.ahima.org and www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/otheract/icd9/abticd10.htm.