HHS Proposes One-Year ICD-10 Delay

A rule proposed Monday by the Department of Health and Human Services would delay required ICD-10 compliance by one year, from Oct. 1, 2013, to Oct. 1, 2014.  It would also establish a unique health plan identifier under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

HHS projects the proposed rule will result in savings to healthcare providers and health plans of up to $4.6 billion over the next decade.

In February, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius delayed for an unspecified period the implementation date for the ICD-10 diagnostic and procedural coding system. Proponents of ICD-10, including industry groups such as AHIMA and health organizations that have invested heavily in adopting the new standard, oppose the delay.

Read the HHS media release.