New CMS 1500 Claim Forms and ICD-10 Deadlines Approach

ICD-10 and the New CMS 1500 Forms

With the scope of the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 and multiple deadlines approaching, it is imperative for practices to begin looking into ensuring their software and employees are prepared for the required coding changes. In fact, they should have already been looking into this.

By April 1st, 2014, CMS will begin requiring the new CMS 1500 Insurance Claim forms and will reject the old ones. The required use of these new forms is but another step towards the October 1st, 2014 deadline for the complete transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10.

The new CMS 1500 Insurance Claim forms will allot room for up to 12 codes compared to the previous 4 and will be accepted in either paper or electronic versions. These new forms are the standard and required format for submitting paper claims to Medicare.

With ICD-10 containing over 70,000+ codes and 500,000+ descriptions, the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 can seem incredibly daunting. If you have yet to consider the necessary steps in order to prepare for these changes, the transition very well might be.

For more information regarding the new CMS 1500 Insurance Claim forms, please visit Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.