HHS initiates ICD-10 postponement

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen G. Sebelius has announced that HHS will initiate a process to postpone the date by which
 certain healthcare entities have to comply with ICD-10.

The final rule adopting ICD-10 as a standard was published in January 2009 and set a compliance date of October 1, 2013–a delay of two years from the compliance date initially specified in the 2008 proposed rule. HHS will announce a new compliance date moving forward.

“We have heard from many in the provider community who have concerns about the administrative burdens they face in the years ahead,” said Sebelius. "We are committing to work with the provider community to re-examine the pace at which HHS and the nation implement these important improvements to our healthcare system.”

Entities covered under HIPAA will be required to use the ICD-10 diagnostic and procedure codes. This announcement comes on the heels of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Marilyn Tavenner stating that the CMS will re-examine the ICD-10 timeline through a rulemaking process.