If you're purchasing an electronic health record (EHR) system to qualify for the meaningful use incentives, it seems fairly obvious that it should be ICD-10-compatible.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services offers some questions to ask your vendor:

• "Will the system be able to accommodate ICD-10-CM and/or ICD-10-PCS code sets?"
• "What customer support and training for ICD-10 will be offered, and will it be included in the contract?"
• "Will the software application be able to accommodate both ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes?"

If you already have an EHR system, check your contract for ICD-10 upgrades. Contact your vendor and ask:

• "Will there be additional costs to accommodate ICD-10 codes?"
• "Will my contract need to be modified to include ICD-10 codes? If so, what are the terms?"
• "Will my system be ICD-10-ready by 2013 so I can begin ICD-10 testing?"
• "What level of customer support and training is offered? Are those costs included in the contract?"

Hopefully, meaningful use and ICD-10 have become integrated projects by now.