WSJ: IT Companies Could Get Boost From Health Care Coding Switch
The Wall Street Journal Venture Capital Dispatch: IT Companies Stand To Gain From Health Care's 'Y2K' ProblemSome venture-backed information-technology companies that serve hospitals and health insurers are getting a boost from what analysts call the "Y2K" of health care. The problem is caused by a coming change in the coding system used to bill for medical procedures. Most industrialized nations, such as Canada, France and the U.K., switched to the newest system, ICD-10, years ago, but the U.S. lags behind. U.S. health-care providers and payers can't wait much longer, however, since the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has mandated that they move from ICD-9 to ICD-10 by Oct. 1, 2013 (Gormley, 2/22). This is part of the Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.
