Skip to main content

What is Medical Coding?




Medical coding is the transformation of healthcare diagnosis, procedures, medical services and equipment into universal medical alphanumeric codes.” Put simply, this refers to the process of translating important medical information into simple codes for the purpose of documenting medical records and informing accurate medical billing.

There are a few different types of medical codes used in healthcare settings today, but each of them allows for uniform documentation between medical facilities. Having this standard system allows for a more seamless transfer of medical records and more efficient research and analysis to track health trends. The three main types of codes are ICD-10-CM, CPT-4, and HCPCS

What is a medical coder?

Medical coders are the individuals responsible for translating physicians’ reports into useful medical codes. These professionals work behind the scenes in a variety of settings, ensuring all pertinent information is coded appropriately to ensure consistency and accuracy.
After a medical provider examines or treats a patient, the insurance company needs to understand what was done in order to process the bill. Common language is too inexact to give the insurance company the accurate details it needs, so a set of specific codes has been established to define medical procedures. It’s the role of the medical coder to pass along this information in a way that is useful and efficient.

Where do medical coders work?

You may assume you know the answer to this question—hospitals, of course! But there are several other settings a medical coder might work. The simple answer is that these professionals are employed anywhere that provides medical services. This includes hospitals, clinics, urgent care facilities, nursing homes, treatment centers and more, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

What are some qualities that successful medical coders share?

There is no “typical” prototype when it comes to medical coders. You’ll find men and women, young and old, single and married. But good medical coders do share some common characteristics that help them on the job. One critical trait is a strong ethical standard because the patient data they work with is highly confidential.

Medical coders must also have a keen eye for detail, as one tiny mistake in a code could lead to much larger issues. They also must be able to remain focused because their work is rather repetitive, yet extremely important.

How do you become a medical coder?

Becoming a medical coder requires specialized training and certification. It’s not a job just anyone can perform. But that’s what makes medical coders valued professionals in the world of healthcare. They must ensure that the doctors get the compensation for their services.

What is the career outlook for medical coders?

You’ve likely heard about the industry-wide growth expected in the healthcare field. So it’s not surprising that jobs for medical coders are on the rise as well. The BLS projects employment of medical coders to increase 13 percent through 2026, which is nearly twice the average for all occupations.
Your next logical question is, “How much do medical coders make?” According to the BLS, the median annual salary for medical coders in 2017 was $39,180. This falls slightly above the average for all occupations. Factors such as experience, education and work setting can also contribute to higher medical coding salary ranges. The BLS reports the top-earning professionals can make upwards of $60,000 annually.

Comments

  1. Michael14 November 2019 at 18:08

    Good info. A medical biller and coder works side by side. The accuracy of work that a biller can provide will rely on the output of a coder. Since a small mistake on the coder's side will also result in a billing error which can most likely result to denied claims. Medical or Dental billing and coding can be a good choice for career shifters.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sanjana9 December 2019 at 02:46

    What is Scope Of Medical Codeing and Billing In India

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vijayarani Sivakumar, COC9 December 2019 at 03:03

      US Medical Coding and Billing careers in India are blossoming right now and the trend so far has been promising. Life Science and non life science graduates can join this field if they have good command of English language. Appropriate training and job placement will be assured.

      Contact me for further details - 9944478988 and feel free to visit our training website - training.velanhcs.com

      Delete
  3. Alia parker1 April 2024 at 08:11

    Considering a kidney transplant abroad? Thoroughly research reputable clinics, legal regulations, and post-transplant care options for a successful procedure and recovery.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Injections & Infusions Coding

Here are the three basic coding rules that you must adhere to when billing for Injection/Infusion services: Rule #1: Pay Attention to the Administration Route When you’re looking at the treatment note, you can first look for hints to proper coding by identifying the Route of Administration.  the Injection/Infusion CPT® codes fall into one of three major categories: 1. Intravenous Infusions (IV) 2. Intravenous Pushes (IP) 3. Injections (Sub-Q, IM) Don’t forget: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations look at the way a drug is administered only as “the physical process by which the drug enters the patient’s body” – not whether a medical professional administers the drug or supervises the administration. But the administration route hierarchy isn’t the only one you need to understand for Injection/Infusion coding — there is another hierarchy for the type of agent that works in tandem with the administration one. Rule #2: Unde...
Post a Comment
Read more

Revenue Cycle Management - RCM

When you enter the field of US Healthcare, the first thing you notice right away is the unique terminology that keeps bombarding you! New medical terms and medical slang keep popping up. Added to it is the abbreviations, acronyms and what not.... You feel overwhelmed at first... But gradually with some patience you can master the terms which are used often in your office. I am listing below some common healthcare terms used in Insurance and Billing in RCM. Check them out and hope you will learn a word or two! BILLING TERMS When both you and your health insurance company pay for your health care expenses, it’s called cost sharing. Deductibles, coinsurance and copays are all examples of cost sharing. Understanding how they work will help you know how much you’ll pay. Deductible A deductible is the amount you pay for health care services before your health insurance begins to pay. How it works: If your plan’s deductible is $1,500, you’ll pay 100 percen...
5 comments
Read more

Spleen - Anatomy

The  spleen  is an organ located in the upper left abdomen, and is roughly the size of a clenched fist. In the adult, the spleen functions mainly as a blood filter, removing old red blood cells. It also plays a role in both cell-mediated and humoral immune responses. The spleen in located in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen, under cover of the diaphragm and  the ribcage – and therefore cannot normally be palpated on clinical examination (except when enlarged). It is an intraperitoneal organ, entirely surrounded by peritoneum (except at the splenic hilum). The spleen is connected to the stomach and kidney by parts of the greater omentum – a double fold of peritoneum that originates from the stomach: The spleen has a slightly  oval  shape. It is covered by a weak capsule that protects the organ whilst allowing it to expand in size. The outer surface of the spleen can be anatomically divided into two: ·      ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Allograft vs Autograft vs Xenograft

Allo – Same species Auto – Same person Xeno – Animal (different species) An autologous transplant uses a person's own stem cells. ... In a reduced-intensity allogeneic transplant, doctors suppress the recipient's immune system enough so the donor stem cells can take root, or “engraft,” there. An autograft is a bone or tissue that is taken from a part of a person’s own body and transplanted into another. Often, surgeons will use a person’s own hamstring tendon to repair a damaged anterior cruciate ligament. Similarly, an autograft bone may be transplanted from a person’s hip to aide in a spinal fusion. Patients who undergo autograft procedures may experience increased postoperative pain from the second surgical (autograft) site. They may also require longer periods of rehabilitation. The use of allograft is advantageous because there is no second procedure required to remove and transfer a portion of the patient’s native bone or tissue. Surgical time may be...
Post a Comment
Read more

Vascular Catheterization - Coding

Vascular system anatomy and terminology to make reporting these procedures less challenging. A thorough understanding of the anatomy and medical terminology of the vascular system is required to accurately code arterial vessel procedures. Here’s a quick run-through of clinical information and coding guidance to show you how order affects coding. Order Matters Please refer to Appendix L of the CPT® code book for the vascular families. The aorta is the major artery. Each main vessel branching off the aorta is a first order vessel (e.g., left common carotid). First order vessels have several vessels branching off them, designated as second order vessels (e.g., right subclavian and axillary). Second order vessels have several vessels branching off them, designated as third order vessels (e.g., right internal carotid). Third order vessels have several smaller vessels branching off them, designated as beyond the third order (e.g., left deep palmar arch). Catheterization Can Ei...
Post a Comment
Read more

Complete List of Modifiers

Modifier - as the name implies a modifier will modify a service / procedure or an item under certain circumstances for appropriate reimbursement. Modifiers may add information or change the description according to the physician documentation to give more specificity for the service or procedure rendered. Appending of an appropriate modifier will effectively respond to reimbursement. Modifier are two digit codes and are categorized into two levels 1. Level I Modifiers: Normally known as CPT Modifiers and consists of two numeric digits and are updated annually by AMA - American Medical Association. 2. Level II Modifiers: Normally known as HCPCS Modifiers and consists of two digits (Alpha / Alphanumeric characters) in the sequence AA through VP. These modifiers are annually updated by CMS - Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Both the above levels of Modifiers are recognized nationally. List of Level I Modifiers: Modifier -21 Prolonged Evaluation and Man...
Post a Comment
Read more

Coding STEMI VS NSTEMI

Ischemic heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the United States and worldwide (World Health Organization, 2017). It’s no surprise that myocardial infarctions (MI) are frequently seen as reportable conditions when coding inpatient encounters. Recent ICD-10-CM changes offer new codes to further specify the type and cause of MIs. How and where the myocardial death occurs determines the ICD-10-CM code assignment. MIs are categorized in several ways. Historically, MIs were categorized based on the thickness of the myocardial necrosis. A transmural MI occurs when the myocardial necrosis is full thickness (extending from the endocardium through the myocardium to the epicardium), and a non-transmural MI includes necrosis of the endocardium or the endocardium and myocardium only.  Electrocardiogram  findings are more commonly used to identify the type of MI. This includes  ST-elevation MIs (STEMI), non-ST-elevation...
Post a Comment
Read more

Place Holder X

The letter " x ” serves as a placeholder when a code contains fewer than six characters and a seventh character applies. The " x ” also allows for future expansion of the codes. When reporting ICD - 10 - CM codes, coders must add a placeholder so the seventh character is in the correct position. Not every ICD-10-CM code with a seventh character has a sixth character—or even a fifth or fourth character for that matter. This frequently occurs with poisonings and injuries. The letter "x” serves as a placeholder when a code contains fewer than six characters and a seventh character applies. The "x” also allows for future expansion of the codes. When reporting ICD-10-CM codes, coders must add a placeholder so the seventh character is in the correct position. Without this placeholder to ensure characters appear in the correct positions, codes are invalid. For example, a patient presents with an accidental poisoning by an antiallergic drug. For the initial ...
Post a Comment
Read more