The U.S. lags other countries in adoption of ICD-10, and it should end the delay for adoption, speakers at a Capitol Hill briefing Feb. 10 told members of Congress.

Some of the same speakers who spoke at the briefing will testify today at the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing Examining ICD-10 Implementation.

The Coalition for ICD-10, an advocacy group, sponsored the Feb. 10 briefing, which was billed as an opportunity for congressional members and staff to hear from physicians and other experts about ICD-10 implementation progress, and the Oct,1, 2015, deadline speakers said was needed and supported by the majority of the healthcare community.

[See also: Senators confident ICD-10 is a go.]

"Nemours Children's Health System believes implementing ICD-10 in 2015 is critically important, and we appreciate the opportunity to share our story with policymakers and other interested parties," said David W. West, MD, medical director, health informatics and business partners of Nemours, at the briefing. "ICD-10 affords us the opportunity to make advancements in public health surveillance, clinical research and quality measurement that can have positive impacts on patient care."

AHIMA CEO Lynne Thomas Gordon called the briefing "an important opportunity for key stakeholders – small rural doctors and providers, hospitals, physician office management professionals and payers – to cut through the myths and misinformation and prove conclusively that the healthcare community will be ready for ICD-10 on Oct. 1."

[See also: Survey shows ICD-10 easier than first reported.]

Edward Burke, DO, of Beyer Medical Group, a small physician practice that serves a rural population of about 4,000, noted in his briefing remarks that the U.S. lags other countries in adopting ICD-10. "Even in our small community it is not uncommon for patients to be traveling out of the country," he said. "To speak the same healthcare language is imperative. As a nation we are behind. As an industry we are behind. As healthcare providers we can do better. We must be open to change and to the possibility that a different way can work. ICD?10 is truly better than what we currently have."