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From the TN Medical Association

Some healthcare providers still feel unprepared for the transition to new ICD-10 codes, which takes effect Oct. 1. As the Tennessee Medical Association and a group of co-sponsoring organizations deliver exclusive training workshops around the state, feedback from participants suggests many more practices could benefit from the hands-on training. 



“We are not prepared in our office, especially our providers,” one participant in the training workshop said. 



TMA delivered coding camps to about 400 participants in East Tennessee last month and expects more than 500 to attend remaining events next week. Sessions will be offered on Aug. 11 in Memphis, on Aug. 12 in Jackson and on Aug. 13 in Nashville. 



Sessions are led by certified ICD-10 trainers from the American Academy of Professional Coders, the nation’s largest training and credentialing organization for medical coding, billing, auditing, and compliance. 



Participants in the program have said they left better-prepared to begin using ICD-10. 



“I feel much better with what is needed,” one participant said. “This actually helped me put it all in perspective relative to my actual practice.”  



“This training gave plenty of insight and I feel like I have a greater understanding and more prepared to embark on this new journey,” another participant said. 



Participants also said they would like their colleagues to take part in the workshops. 



“I would love this same training for all my staff and my physicians,” a participant said. “There were three or four docs there and most were very excited to have the help provided.” 



Survey results from those who have been through the program show that more than 85 percent gave a high rating to speaker knowledge and presentation for training sessions and more than 91 percent gave a high rating to quality of materials and content for the workshop.



“The information was excellent and I feel our doctors need to have training on ICD-10 coding and documentation as well,” a participant said. 



The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will require new ICD-10 codes for all healthcare transactions beginning Oct. 1, and providers who aren’t able to transition properly won’t get paid for services. 



For more information, visit tnmed.org/icd-10.