Will NCAS be ready for the ICD-10 transition?

Yes. We are currently on-track with preparations, and we will be ready for ICD-10 by the October 1, 2015 transition deadline determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). We have completed our system changes, and are performing internal testing of these updates.

What rules will NCAS have for the submission of ICD-10 claims vs. ICD-9 claims?

Please refer to the NCAS ICD-10 Claim Submission Guidelines document for information on:

·         whether to submit a claim using ICD-9 or ICD-10 codes
·         whether to submit a single claim for services spanning the ICD-10 mandate, or split the services into two claims

The guidance in this document applies equally to all claims, regardless of paper or Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) submission channels. Any claim submitted by a provider that does not comply with these guidelines will be returned to provider. Providers will be required to re-submit these claims after complying with these guidelines.

The NCAS ICD-10 Claim Submission Guidelines document can be found on the ICD-10 Provider Portal page (Claim Submission Guidlines).

Will NCAS accept ICD-10 coded claims prior to October 1, 2015?

No. NCAS is complying with the Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines which require the continued use of ICD-9-CM through September 30, 2015.

Will NCAS train Providers on ICD-10 coding?

No. NCAS cannot tell Providers how to code a claim, so we will not provide training to Providers on ICD-10 coding. There are independent resources available to provide training on ICD-10 to physicians and medical coders. Examples of these training providers include:

Ø  American Association of Professional Coders
(http://www.aapc.com/icd-10/)

Ø  American Health Information Management Association
(http://www.ahima.org/icd10/training.aspx)

Ø  CMS Road to 10: The Small Physician Practice’s Route to ICD-10
(http://www.roadto10.org/)

Are medical policies changing due to new ICD-10 diagnosis codes?

No. NCAS medical policies are not changing as a result of the ICD-10 transition. Medical policies do not reference specific ICD-9 codes, and they will not reference ICD-10 codes after the transition.

Who can I contact with additional questions?

Please send any questions or comments related to ICD-10 to ICD-10@CareFirst.com.