First ICD-10 Acknowledgement Testing Week Begins Nov. 17th

WASHINGTON (Nov. 12, 2014)—Prior to the ICD-10 implementation date on Oct. 1, 2015, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will offer three separate weeks of ICD-10 acknowledgement testing. The first testing week begins Nov. 17, 2014.

These special acknowledgement testing weeks give submitters access to real-time help desk support and allows CMS to analyze testing data. Registration is not required for these virtual events.

All MACs and the DME MAC Common Electronic Data Interchange (CEDI) contractors will promote this ICD-10 acknowledgement testing with trading partners. This testing allows all providers, billing companies and clearinghouses the opportunity to determine whether CMS will be able to accept their claims with ICD-10 codes.

While test claims will not be adjudicated, the MACs will return an acknowledgment to the submitter (a 277A) that confirms whether the submitted test claims were accepted or rejected. MACs and CEDI will be appropriately staffed to handle increased call volume on their Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) help desk numbers, especially during the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. local MAC time, during these testing weeks.

The testing weeks will occur in November 2014, March 2015 and June 2015. Please watch for future CGS email messages and news articles related to the upcoming acknowledgement testing.

For assistance during Acknowledgement Testing Week, contact the EDI Help Desk at:

HHH: (877) 299-4500 (choose option 2)

Part B Kentucky or Ohio: (866) 276-9558 (choose option 2)

Part A Kentucky or Ohio: (866) 590-6703 (choose option 2)