The October 1 deadline is really just the beginning. As ICD-10 coding gets underway in earnest next month, there will be plenty of questions that need answering for providers nationwide. AHIMA wants to help.

"AHIMA Code-Check doesn't just provide answers to questions but will show all the key steps for how the correct code was arrived at. It can be an important and ongoing source of continuing education," said AHIMA CEO Lynne Thomas Gordon in a press release announcing the service, as the group gears up for its convention and exhibit in New Orleans next week.

With AHIMA Code-Check, which will launch on October 12 as the freshly-coded claims gain steam, AHIMA's credentialed members will be available to answer questions related to coding in ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS, CPT and HCPCS. The service can be purchased on a subscription or as-needed basis.

It was designed with physicians, coders, coding managers, CDI specialists and revenue cycle managers in mind, and is aimed, Gordon said, to "coincide with the early days of the ICD-10 transition at the time when there is the biggest need for additional services and expertise around the new code set."

Among the insight offered by Code-Check:

• Expert interpretation and guidance on necessary pathways for accurate code assignment
• Nomenclature and terminology relationships vital to correct coding paths
• Solutions with cited sources
• Guidelines for when to query for necessary documentation
• Identification of patient care variables that affect CPT and HCPCS codes


"Our vision for AHIMA Code-Check is that every claim will be submitted with accurate and complete codes within the respective classification systems," said Lou Ann Wiedemann, vice President of HIM Practice Excellence at AHIMA, in a statement. "At this pivotal point in the healthcare industry, AHIMA is focused on ensuring quality data through accurate code assignment."

Learn more about it here.

See also:
ICD-10 go-live: Nightmare or non-event?
The case for creating an ICD-10 command center
Innovation Pulse: ICD-10 - Pick your own adventure