Are you new to medical coding & want to understand more about it? Then these NEWBIES threads are for you!
The first question most new coders (newbies) ask is...
What is Medical Coding?
About Medical coding:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects medical coding & billing jobs to grow at a rate of 21 percent through 2020, 11% higher than the average growth rate for the American economy.
Some great reasons to pursue medical coding jobs can include job security, good pay, and flexibility. Medical technology advancement has greatly contributed to the number of medical tests, treatments and procedures that are performed by healthcare providers. As a result, scrutiny of these medical records by regulators, payers and patients, continues to increase. So, medical coding jobs will continue to be a growing job field. Medical Coders can help to expedite medical claims through the system accurately and efficiently.
What Does A Medical Coder Do?
When a patient sees a healthcare provider each visit gets coded for reimbursement purposes & sometimes data tracking. A healthcare provider reviews your chief complaint & medical history to assess your medical condition to determine a diagnosis & how to treat that diagnosis. The healthcare provider documents your visit for your electronic healthcare record to determine payments made to the healthcare provider via your healthcare insurance.
A medical coder utilizes medical coding manuals called the CPT (Coding Procedural Terminology), ICD-10-CM (International Classification Diseases) & HCPCS (Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System) to select specific numbered codes to describe every visit for reimbursement.
Medical codes translate from the medical record into these standardized codes that tell
the payers all the pertinent information needed to achieve the maximum reimbursement to the healthcare provider.
EHR (Electronic Health Record) or EMR (Electronic Medical record)
Provides necessary information needed for reimbursement:
Patient Diagnosis
Medically necessary treatments, services or supplies the patient received.
Any unusual circumstances or medical conditions that affected those treatments or services.
Keep Reading More Medical Coding Beginner Articles...
The first question most new coders (newbies) ask is...
What is Medical Coding?
About Medical coding:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects medical coding & billing jobs to grow at a rate of 21 percent through 2020, 11% higher than the average growth rate for the American economy.
Some great reasons to pursue medical coding jobs can include job security, good pay, and flexibility. Medical technology advancement has greatly contributed to the number of medical tests, treatments and procedures that are performed by healthcare providers. As a result, scrutiny of these medical records by regulators, payers and patients, continues to increase. So, medical coding jobs will continue to be a growing job field. Medical Coders can help to expedite medical claims through the system accurately and efficiently.
What Does A Medical Coder Do?
When a patient sees a healthcare provider each visit gets coded for reimbursement purposes & sometimes data tracking. A healthcare provider reviews your chief complaint & medical history to assess your medical condition to determine a diagnosis & how to treat that diagnosis. The healthcare provider documents your visit for your electronic healthcare record to determine payments made to the healthcare provider via your healthcare insurance.
A medical coder utilizes medical coding manuals called the CPT (Coding Procedural Terminology), ICD-10-CM (International Classification Diseases) & HCPCS (Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System) to select specific numbered codes to describe every visit for reimbursement.
Medical codes translate from the medical record into these standardized codes that tell
the payers all the pertinent information needed to achieve the maximum reimbursement to the healthcare provider.
EHR (Electronic Health Record) or EMR (Electronic Medical record)
Provides necessary information needed for reimbursement:
Patient Diagnosis
Medically necessary treatments, services or supplies the patient received.
Any unusual circumstances or medical conditions that affected those treatments or services.
Keep Reading More Medical Coding Beginner Articles...
- Are Medical Coders and Billers the Same?
- What Type of Education is Required to Become a Medical Coder?
- AAPC Certified Coder vs. AHIMA Certified Coder
- Do I Need to Know Medical Terminology & Anatomy?
- Medical Coding Exams
- About the AAPC CPC® Exam
- What Topics Are On The AAPC CPC® Exam?
- Manuals Needed for the CPC Exam
- How Do I Pass The AAPC Certification Exam? (CCO Proven Process)
- CPC Exam Tips & Strategies
- Coding and The CPT Manual Key Concepts for The CPC Exam
- 4 Basic Rules to Remember