It's no longer a mere possibility; HHS has confirmed its intent to delay the ICD-10 compliance deadline, according to its latest press release.
"We have heard from many in the provider community who have concerns about the administrative burdens they face in the years ahead," HHS Secretary Kathleen G. Sebelius said in the February 16 press release. "We are committing to work with the provider community to reexamine the pace at which HHS and the nation implement these important improvements to our healthcare system."
It is "premature" to speculate on the rulemaking process or the eventual ICD-10 implementation deadline.
The American Medical Association (AMA) supports the delay. "The timing of the ICD-10 transition could not be worse for physicians as they are spending significant financial and administrative resources implementing electronic health records in their practices and trying to comply with multiple quality and health information technology programs that include penalties for noncompliance," Peter W. Carmel, MD, president of the AMA, said in a February 16 press release.
HHS has not yet set a new implementation date for ICD 10. We will keep you informed of any new developments regarding this issue.