After years of debates and delays, ICD-10 critics and advocates have come together and agreed to one-year transition period announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and endorsed by the American Medical Association (AMA) recently.

During the one-year period, ICD-10 claims will not be denied as long as the claim is selected from the appropriate code family. However, here are some important things for Texas Tech Physicians, and all practices, to note:

• All practices will be required to code in ICD-10 beginning Oct. 1, 2015
• The grace period applies to Medicare Part B claims only — not Medicaid, hospitals or private payer processes
• The grace period includes coding for the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), value-based modifier (VBM) and meaningful use quality reporting periods, but only through the end of 2015
• CMS will allow providers to file for advance payments if Medicare Part B contractors are unable to process claims due to implementation issues

“While this latest announcement is welcome—we do not intend to overly-depend on it and will continue to move forward with full vigor,” said Brent D. Magers, CEO of Texas Tech Physicians.