CMS Offers Back-Up Plan

October 1, 2015 is still more than a year away; but, if after your best effort it still looks like you will not be able to complete the neces­sary system changes to allow your practice to submit claims with ICD-10 codes by the October 1, 2015 deadline, you should look into the free billing software that CMS offers through its Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) websites.

The software has been updated to support ICD-10 codes and requires an internet connection. The bill­ing software only allows FFS claims to be submitted to Medicare. It is intended to provide submitters with an ICD-10 compliant claims submission format; it does not provide any coding assistance.

All MAC websites offer provider internet portals, and a subset of these portals offer claims submission. Register your practice in the portals that offer claim submission to ensure that you have the ability to submit claims in this manner as a contingency plan. Ideally, such a plan will not be necessary.

Additional MAC information is available at http:// www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learn­ing-Network-MLN/MLNMattersArticles/index.html.

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