ICD-10 Transition Materials Available
folder_openChanges to Protocols and Guidelines, Information for Home Health Agenciescalendar_todayPosted June 1, 2015

The purpose of this announcement is to remind survey vendors of the change in the XML data file structure needed to accommodate the use of ICD-10 diagnosis codes that will be submitted for the first time with the April 21, 2016 data submission (Quarter 4, 2015).  Updated versions of the Protocols and Guideline Manual and the Website User and Data Submission Manual will be made available in January 2016, with the changes described below incorporated.

The ICD-10 codes are 7 digits, rather than the 5 currently allowed on the HHCAHPS XML file for the ICD-9 codes. To give HHCAHPS survey vendors time to test changes to their systems and file structures, the HHCAHPS Coordination Team has created updated versions of relevant appendices in the Protocols and Guidelines Manual, as well as updated versions of the file layouts/ file schema. These materials are available under the Data Submission tab on the HHCAHPS website, once vendors have logged in, via this link:

https://homehealthcahps.org/DataSubmission/TransitiontoICD10CM.aspx

The following variables will be lengthened to accommodate up to 7 characters:

• Primary Diagnosis
• Other diagnosis 1
• Other diagnosis 2
• Other diagnosis 3
• Other diagnosis 4
• Other diagnosis 5

As always, the data must be left-justified, all leading zeroes must be retained, and no decimal points should be used.

The following materials and files have been updated with this information:

• Appendix B:  Sample File Layout – Home Health Care CAHPS Survey
• Appendix M: Survey Data File Structure for a Standard Header Record
• Appendix N: XML Data File Layout for Standard Header Record
• Appendix O: XML Data File Layout for Disproportionate Stratified Random Sampling
• XML Sample File
• XML File Schema: standard and DSRS
• XML Schema Validation Tool ICD10

If you have any questions, please contact the HHCAHPS Survey Coordination Team via e-mail at hhcahps@rti.org or call toll-free at (866) 354-0985.