Health Language, Inc. (HLI), which specializes in medical and administrative terminology management, announced Thursday that the Chicago-based Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) has selected HLI as a preferred vendor to help Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies transition smoothly and efficiently from ICD-9 to ICD-10 by the Oct. 1, 2013, deadline mandated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

BCBSA selected HLI to help enable the Blue companies to increase mapping efficiency, improve outcomes, decrease errors, and optimize personnel, financial and operational resources.

HLI will offer LEAP I-10, which utilizes HLI's flagship Language Engine technology, to provide Web-based tools that facilitate the transition to ICD-10. LEAP I-10 can create real-world migration simulations using Blue companies' actual data from benefit plans, medical policies, provider contracts and other sources to assess the potential impact of the transition and identify risk mitigation options at a granular, actionable level.



Based on the results of the initial GEMs mapping, custom maps that add or delete ICD-10 codes can easily be developed and tested to address individual Blue Plan's needs as well as to evaluate payment neutrality and satisfy risk management requirements for BCBSA.

HLI provides medical terminology management to payers, providers, health IT vendors, government agencies and standards-setting organizations. Currently, HLI supplies technology and consulting to many of the top payers in the U.S. and worldwide. This includes health ministries in countries that have already converted to ICD-10, such as the United Kingdom's National Health Service, and some that are already exploring ICD-11.


HLI also provides technology to all leading provider HIT vendors that use third-party tools to create, update and deploy clinical and administrative content. HLI's technology and consulting services have been instrumental in successful ICD-9 to ICD-10 conversions ─ including mapping, localized content management, and clinical and business outcome analysis.