Local Health Operations Branch Update Questions and Answers PHN ITV October 17, 2013

ICD 10 Transition The Local Health Operations (LHO) Branch began making Department for Public Health (DPH) and Local Health Departments (LHD) aware of the federal requirement to transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 in DPH program staff are currently reviewing the ICD-9 codes that pertain to their program cost centers to determine the appropriate ICD-10 code that LHDs will need to use.

ICD 10 Transition Once this process is finalized, LHO staff will work with CDP to get the PSRS system ready to accommodate the ICD-10 codes. After that time DPH program staff, under the coordination of LHO, will schedule an ITV to provide training to the LHDs on the transition.

ICD 10 Transition In the interim, LHDs can familiarize themselves with aspects of ICD-10 through the Medicare Learning Network (MLN). MLN offers frequent webinars. LHO will forward webinar training information as it is received.

DMS Correspondence The Department for Medicaid Services (DMS) sent out ICD 10 conversion correspondence on September 20 to all Medicaid providers.

DMS Correspondence This message targeted independent/private providers to alert them of the upcoming changes. Since DPH is working with CDP on the ICD 10 transition of coding, LHDs do not need to be concerned with the vendor/clearinghouse setup.

Meaningful Use “Meaningful Use” is the set of standards defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Incentive Programs that governs the use of electronic health records (EHR) Allows eligible providers and hospitals to earn incentive payments by meeting specific criteria. For details about the incentive programs, visit the CMS website. visit the CMS website

Meaningful Use CDP is working with DPH to provide the LHDs with certified EHR system capability by early to mid More information regarding meaningful use and the LHD EHR system will be forthcoming

Medicare and “Qualified Providers” Q: Are there any talks underway to get Medicare to recognize LHD RN’s as “qualified providers” for administering immunizations other than flu & pneumonia? (i.e., Hepatitis B) A: At this time, DPH does not contract with Medicare, so DPH is not in a position to negotiate this request.

Medicare Provider Guidelines Qualified Medicare Providers can provide services to Medicare Part B & C patients according to their scope of practice and they follow the “Medicare Preventive Services Guidelines” manual (CMS website). LHDs have unique billing situations related to their provider setups; therefore, they must know the rules for billing Medicare as it relates to their agency.

Questions? Further questions? Contact the LHO Branch at