Home Health Firm: AMA Has Misplaced Priorities

Daymarck, an outsourced home health medical coding firm, is calling out the American Medical Association for misplaced priorities following AMA members' adoption of a resolution to fight implementation of the ICD-10 code sets.

In a blog posting on its Web site, the company contends the AMA stance of opposing ICD-10 so physicians can keep their focus on patients is not justified. "While physicians have to document diagnoses for each patient encounter, this ultimately would not change the physicians' focus on their patients. They rarely are responsible for the final submission of codes prior to billing. This should be the responsibility of certified medical coders to ensure accuracy."

Daymarck urges the AMA to direct its attention and bring its influence to other pressing issues. For instance, despite the shortage of primary care physicians and an aging population, the AMA has not supported legislation to expand the role of nurse practitioners in home health, and has not opposed proposals to add co-pays to Medicare home episodes of care.

The complete blog entry is available here.