AHIMA SIGNS CONTRACT WITH CMS FOR

ICD-10 IMPLEMENTATION ASSESSMENT AND TRAINING

CHICAGO, October 3, 2007 – The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) today announced it will provide ICD-10 implementation assessment and training consultation services for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) following AHIMA’s signing of a contract with the nation’s healthcare policy-making agency.

Specifically, the contract requires AHIMA to determine ICD-10’s impact(s) on CMS; develop ICD-10 integrated project and implementation plans for CMS; conduct training needs assessment  and provide CMS with coding expertise and assistance.

“AHIMA is proud to serve CMS through the provisions of this contract.  We were awarded the contract based on CMS’ determination that AHIMA is the most qualified organization capable of satisfying the criteria for a successful execution,” said Linda Kloss, AHIMA chief executive officer. The contract calls for an initial year and four option years.

Supporting Kloss’ assertion are the more than six decades of AHIMA experience in the use and development of classification for diseases.  Moreover, AHIMA served as one of a handful of cooperating parties that determined the guidelines for the use of ICD-9-CM, the current US classification mechanism that many in healthcare, including AHIMA, believe has long outlived its usefulness.

There are three subcontractors working with AHIMA on this project, each responsible for a separate element of the classification process.  Symphony Corp. will provide data collection team leaders and IT consultants, while Vangent Inc. will handle business process analysts and data monitoring.  The RAND Corp. will be responsible for cost estimates.

About AHIMA

AHIMA is the nation’s leading professional Association for health information management, representing more than 51,000 specially educated, trained and certified professionals, working throughout the healthcare industry.  HIM professionals serve healthcare and the public by managing, analyzing and utilizing data that is vital for health system management.