I can admit I have a different way of looking at things. And sometimes different means wrong.

For example, last week I took a look at why non-covered entities won't have to comply with ICD-10-CM/PCS standards. I concluded ICD-10 was so wonderful that non-covered entities wouldn't be able to resist.

It was a theory.

And this week, Bridgefront executive vice president Lorraine Schnelle pokes a big hole in that theory. While talking about preparing for ICD-10 implementation, she tells me that smaller insurers just aren't going to want to dedicate the resources. That there will be regulatory movement to force them to comply.

If you're wondering who's right, Schnelle is the better bet. She has more experience and connections. But my gut tells me I'm not far off the mark. You may be a better judge.

But I didn't talk to Schnelle to find out wrong I was. We had a pretty good conversation about ICD-10 preparation. So good I had to write two posts:

• ICD-10 Transition: Why you need to engage the whole organization
• ICD-10 Preparation: 6 elements that need to be in your impact assessments

In Defense of Granularity: Why there are so many ICD-10 codes

Sometimes we get a little too flip when we discuss the granularity of ICD-10-CM/PCS codes. It's very tempting to crack a joke about flaming water skis and walking into a lamppost. But for the most part, those ICD-10 codes exist because a constituency of healthcare professionals wants to access that data. I want to identify those constituencies and talk to them about what that granularity can help achieve. If you have some insights, please share. (ICD10 Watch)

AMA Delegates Balk at ICD-10 Implementation

You know who isn't a fan of granularity? The American Medical Association (AMA). I know. How many times can I write the AMA is vigorously opposing ICD-10-CM/PCS? But Caroline Helwick gets some very good detail not previously reported. This piece explains nicely why physicians are so vigorous. A lot of sound bites round up the opposing viewpoints very well. (General Surgery News)

New Year’s Resolution: No More Harping

Ron Mills lists four ICD-10 projects that are a waste of time:

1. Using the GEMs for coding.
2. Translation substituting for understanding.
3. DRG impact analysis.
4. ICD-9-to-ICD-10 data conversion.

(3M Health Information Systems)

Feeling Better About ICD-10

Cheryl Clark lists 10 reasons why ICD-10 implementation will be a good thing. Most of them are about the positive side effects of specificity and granularity.(HealthLeaders Media)

Nobody expects anybody to speak ICD-10-PCS

Rhonda Butler doesn't think that ICD-10-PCS codes will replace the language that physicians use. They will continue to use the same terms as usual but be asked to be more specific. It suggests that ICD-10 implementation won't have the dire consequences that opponents cite. (3M Health Information Systems)

5 ICD-10 Drawbacks: Plan Ahead to Protect Your Practice

Pretty good explanation of some of the challenges that can bog down your ICD-10 implementation. (Hett-Dobricky & Associates)

Epic Systems, Digitizing Health Records Before It Was Cool

This is a pretty good introduction to electronic health records (EHRs) what it takes to develop those systems by profiling a business that has been doing it for 30 years. This paragraph sums up the complexity nicely:

[Epic Systems CEO Judith] Faulkner, understands why it’s taken much longer for the health care industry than, say, banks and airlines to move to electronic data. In banking, the types of data are much more limited and known, she says. In health care, by contrast, data is constantly changing based on information from doctors, nurses, patients and others. New discoveries, protocols and government requirements add even more complexity.

(NYTimes.com)

Understanding EHR Contract Terms By Ron Sterling

Ron Sterling takes a look at some clauses in EHR contracts that can cause problems for medical practices. These warnings can be applied to other HIT contracts. (HITECH Answers)

ICD-10, Anatomy, Physiology, and Pathophysiology: What's the Connection?

Marilyn Holley explains in addition to understanding anatomy and physiology, attention needs to be paid to pathophysiology - the study of the changes of normal mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions, either caused by a disease, or resulting from an abnormal syndrome. (ADVANCE for Health Information Professionals)

ICD-10 and Electronic Medical Records May Only Work 65% Of the Time

A reminder that not all EHR systems are compatible with ICD-10 coding. (No World Borders)

Were you ready for HIPAA 5010?

Very nice start to a series on how to use data in hospitals and medical practices. (Healthcare IT Solutions)

Living with 5010: Red Flags to Watch For

Three problems you may be experiencing now that you're transactions are HIPAA 5010 compatible and how to fix them. (ICD-10 Hub Blog)

Press Release Roundup

T-System Acquires Practice Management Associate: T-System's Market Expansion Will Marry Emergency Department Clinical Documentation to Revenue Cycle Management for Improved Financial Outcomes

Health Language, Inc. Launches a New Version of its Provider Friendly Terminology to Include Attributes Native to ICD-10-CM: Health Language, Inc. (HLI), the global leader in medical terminology management, today announced that it has launched a new version of its provider friendly terminology (PFT) to include clinician friendly synonyms and more than 100,000 attributes for ICD-10-CM.

HCPro Announces the New JustCoding Virtual Summit on ICD-10: HCPro, Inc., the leading provider of integrated information, education, training, and consulting products and services in healthcare regulation and compliance, will be bringing together leading industry experts on coding and ICD-10 for three days of presentations and discussion, from February 29th through March 2nd, 2012.

BridgeFront Launches ICD-10 Preparedness Education: BridgeFront launches Phase One of its ICD curriculum roadmap, its ICD-10 Preparedness Education. This two-hour training prepares healthcare employees across the organization for the conversion to ICD-10, coming in October 2013.