In order to conduct ICD-10 testing you must already ensure that your internal systems are already capable of accepting, storing, and transmitting ICD-10 codes. During the relatively short time frame of March 2 and March 7, 2014, providers will be able to conduct ICD-10 testing through their local Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC’s). Due to industry-wide concerns about the lack of preparedness and difficulties bringing documentation up to par, CMS is considering providing more thorough testing before October 1, 2014, when ICD-10 comes into effect. In order to test, you have to register through your individual MAC website registration, which should already be available to you. The test data is submitted through the Common Edits & Enhancements Module (CEM) or Common Electronic Data Interchange (CEDI), and the only information that the MAC’s will be giving partners is a 277CA or 999 acknowledgements that the claim was either rejected or accepted. MAC’s will not be able to tell providers what needs to be done in order to ensure payment, this is for technical test to only ensure that the claims can get from the provider to the Medicare system.

A recent survey published in January by the MGMA estimates the cost for a 10-physician practice to upgrade or replace both systems would be $243,850. Physicians who participate in the testing period will receive electronic acknowledgement confirming the status of the test claims they have submitted. Testing within your system and your trading partners, is the best opportunity you have to insure that the transactions and work flow processes that include the ICD-10 codes will function properly after the compliance deadline. Each HIPAA covered entity (i.e. provider, payer, and clearing house) is responsible for its own compliance with the ICD-10 code set requirements. A smooth transition to the ICD-10 codes will also minimize any delays in transaction processing and claims payment after October 1, 2014.