On July 31, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule establishing October 1, 2015 as the official deadline for the implementation of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition diagnosis and procedures codes (ICD-10). ICD-10 codes are used to classify diagnoses and procedures on claims submitted to Medicare and private insurance companies in an effort to improve quality measurement and reporting, facilitate the detection and prevention of fraud and abuse, and enhance the accuracy of reimbursement for medical services. CMS stated that the extended deadline will give health care providers and insurance companies adequate time to ensure a smooth transition from the use of outdated ICD-9 codes to the new ICD-10 codes.
