ICD-10 change could impose big costs on practices

Estimated costs are in for the mandated upgrade to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, which the Department of Health and Human Services plans to adopt by October 2011.

According to Baltimore-based Nachimson Advisors, the ICD-10 upgrade will cost $83,290 for an average small physician practice, $285,195 for an average medium practice, and $2.7 million for an average large practice. Nachimson defines a small practice as 3 physicians and 2 administrative assistants; a medium practice as 10 physicians and midlevels, a coder, and 6 administrative staff; and a large practice as 100 physicians and midlevels, 10 full-time coders, and 54 medical-records staff.