The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it will push back the deadline for implementing new medical billing codes. The deadline for adoption of the new codes, which are used to bill insurance, is now October 1, 2014.

2.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
announced it will push back the deadline for implementing
new medical billing codes. The deadline for adoption of
the new codes, which are used to bill insurance, is now
October 1, 2014.
The Department approved the yearlong delay to provide
physicians and health care providers more time to adjust
to the new, longer codes. The new codes will be used to
document both diagnoses and procedures in medical
billing and insurance claims.
Much of the delay is attributed to the length of the new
billing codes. The current diagnosis codes run three to five
digits in length and number over 14,000 characters.

3.  The new diagnosis codes are as long as seven digits
and contain 68,000 characters.
For procedures, the existing codes include an
estimated 4,000 characters and are three to four
digits long. The new codes will hold 87,000
characters and run seven digits in length.
The changes require health care providers to train
staff members to understand the longer codes and
use the new system. Providers also are grappling with
technology upgrades and investments to
accommodate the new codes.

4.  Based in Florida, Ashok Bagdy is an executive
in the healthcare outsourcing industry for
Cameo Corporate Services Limited.