The defense of Liberty is often spent in the company of scoundrels. . .

. . . is that you don't need to change historical data. There is a hard, day forward switchover date in October 2013. The lookup problem is that there is not a one to one relationship between the old codes and the new ones. The lookup would need to contain a level of intelligence that just simply isn't contained anywhere within the context of the data set. This means that every level needs to comply to get the data. You don't just need the space for the correct number of digits, or add logic to append a "19" or "20" in front of your year. - The doctor needs to be retrained (NOT an easy task since many already "know" everything they will ever need to know) to record the information from the encounter with the patient. - Then the coder needs to select the right codes (assuming the system they use can even handle the new codes). - The billing system needs to be capable of transmitting the new codes (new EDI x-12 rules go into effect in Jan 2012 to support this) - The payer's claim system need to be able to store the new codes - The contract between payer and provider on what amount will be paid for what service needs to be completely rewritten - The payer's examiners / adjudication process must be able to interpret the codes vs. the treatment codes to decide whether to pay the claim at all (Diagnosis = stubbed toe: treatment = removed kidney. . . no pay)

I think this is year 9 or so for me as a paying customer of mlb.com. I will say that Microsoft did a decent job for them a few years back when they switched from Realplayer the Windows Media Player. Maybe the relationship and history of performing had something do to with getting Silverlight in the first place. A few posters have suggested that it was arm twisting / bribes etc. that got Silverlight in the door, but so often it is the same way as anyone buys anything. Microsoft told them they would perform just like they have in the past. They did not. Kudos to mlb.com for not being afraid to go with what gives their users a consistent experience instead of going with the status quo. The new player is fast and stable so far with one day under my belt. I don't really like the way they present the information, but I am used to running the Yahoo gameday for the stats while I listen to the game in mlb.com anyway so I can live with that.

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." -- Thomas Jefferson