HHS Finalizes ICD-10 Deadline Delay

The Department of Health and Human Services is making it official. It will delay for one year the implementation of ICD-10 code sets that classify medical diagnoses and procedures.

The final rule, announced Friday delays ICD-10 implementation to Oct. 1, 2014 from Oct. 1, 2013.

"We believe the change in the compliance date for ICD-10 gives covered healthcare providers and other covered entities more time to prepare and fully test their systems to ensure a smooth and coordinated transition by all covered entities," HHS said.

Providers have anxiously awaited confirmation of the delay, which HHS proposed in April. The American Hospital Association supported a one-year delay based on the time and effort already invested by hospitals in meeting the original 2013 deadline.

The American Medical Association had lobbied for a two-year delay until 2015 citing, among other concerns, the need for a cost/benefit analysis of the move to ICD-10.