HHS Finalizes ICD-10 Deadline Delay

The ICD-10 delay is confirmed in a 208-page rule that also establishes a unique health plan identifier (HPID) for all insurers. The rule is one of a series of changes required by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to cut red tape in the healthcare system. According to the press release announcing the HPID rule, the change will simplify the claims process by standardizing the identifier format.

"These new standards are a part of our efforts to help providers and health plans spend less time filling out paperwork and more time seeing their patients," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a press statement.

HPID's anticipated 10-year return on investment for the entire healthcare industry is expected to be between $1.3 billion and $6 billion," HHS said.

The rule is effective Nov. 5, 2012.

View HHS statement.
View final rule.

See Also:
The New ICD-10 Deadline
ICD-10 Proponents Cry Foul
ICD-10 Delay Doesn't Address Procedural Hurdles, Critics Say
Intelligence Report: ICD-10 Puts Revenue at Risk