Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Coding Flexibility in Healthcare Act of 2015” or the “Code-FLEX Act of 2015”.
Coding Flexibility in Healthcare Act of 2015
A BILL
To provide for a safe harbor period for the transition from the ICD–9 to the ICD–10 standard for health care claims.
Sec. 2 Continuing use of ICD–9–CM codes during a transition period
In general— The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in implementing the transition to ICD–10 code sets pursuant to section 1173(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320d–2(c)) and consistent with section 212 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014, shall provide for a transition period, in accordance with subsection (b), during which health care claims (and related standard transactions) otherwise payable (or processed) by public and private payors shall continue to be processed and paid, as applicable, if submitted with ICD–9 codes.
Duration of transition period— The transition period under subsection (a) shall begin on the first day in which the Secretary adopts such ICD–10 code sets as the standard for codes sets under section 1173(c) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1320d–2(c)) and end 180 days after such date.
Report— Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report assessing the impact of such ICD–10 code sets on health care providers participating under the Medicare program under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, individuals entitled to benefits under part A of such title or enrolled under part B of such title, and other impacted stakeholders.