The house bill (HR 4302) delaying implementation of ICD-10 moved quickly through the Senate on Monday and was signed by President Obama on Tuesday. The ICD-10 delay, which was included in a much broader bill to delay Medicare payment cuts to doctors, prohibits the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from enforcing any mandate to switch from ICD-9 to ICD-10 until at least October 1, 2015. Since the language focuses on preventing CMS from enforcing a mandate, several questions remain including whether October 1, 2015 is the new deadline for implementation.

Written by: Traci Thompson