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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2006
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ADVAMED SUPPORTS HOUSE HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BILL
ICD-10 DEADLINE TO IMPROVE QUALITY, COST INFORMATION
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – AdvaMed President and CEO, Stephen J. Ubl, today issued the following statement regarding the “Health Information Technology (HIT) Promotion Act of 2006’’ (H.R. 4157). Unlike other HIT bills, H.R. 4157 establishes an implementation date for the ICD-10 coding system which is critical to the adoption of and quality reporting for medical technologies and emerging threats such as a global pandemic. ICD-10 would replace the current ICD-9 coding system which was developed more than 30 years ago.
“AdvaMed applauds House leadership and the Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce committees for including an October 2010 implementation date for ICD-10 in the Health Information Technology (HIT) Promotion Act of 2006. Medical advances over the past 30 years have outpaced the current system’s ability to accurately track, identify, and analyze new medical services and technologies. ICD-10 implementation is long overdue, and a declared deadline is critical for the industry to dedicate the resources necessary for the conversion. The ICD-10 coding system will provide the foundation needed to improve quality measurement and patient safety while allowing for more accurate reimbursement.”
AdvaMed member companies produce the medical devices, diagnostic products and health information systems that are transforming health care through earlier disease detection, less invasive procedures and more effective treatments. Our members produce nearly 90 percent of the health care technology purchased annually in the United States and more than 50 percent purchased annually around the world. AdvaMed members range from the largest to the smallest medical technology innovators and companies.
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