There are many different aspects of the medical industry that are often overlooked. One of these, is medical coders. While people notice how doctors, nurses and even pharmacists play a role in treatment, the general public often doesn’t realize that medical coders are present. So, what is medical coding? Why do we need it and what do medical coders even do? How can a medical coder help your medical facility? These are all pertinent questions that we delve into below.
What is Medical Coding?
Medical coding is when doctor’s notes, procedures, treatments and diagnoses are converted into standard codes. These codes are universal, meaning that any doctor who reads the notes will be able to decipher exactly what they mean. Medical coding is used so that health care practices and insurance providers are able to get on the same page when it comes to patient care and billing. Coders utilize different code books to translate these notes and depending on how specialized the diagnoses is, varying levels of research are required.
Why Do We Need Medical Coders?
No matter how you look at it, medical coders are essential to the medical industry. These professionals are tasked with reviewing clinical notes and assigning them standard codes using various classification systems. While the codes are standard and universal, that does not make medical coding an easy task. Larger medical facilities will often need to employ specialized coders that are highly experienced in various codes. Medical coders are important because they allow coding tasks to happen on a timely, accurate basis. With so much on their plates, general administrative staffs are often not able to handle large volumes of patient files to code. Without medical coders, medical facilities are likely to get backed up on their tasks, or complete inaccurate transformations. This means that patients can be receiving worse care, or you could be receiving less reimbursements than you are entitled to.
Do You Need Help With Your Medical Coding? HCC Coders Can Help!
You know how essential medical coding is for your practice. Staying up to date and accurate on your medical coding tasks not only ensures that you receive the maximum reimbursements, but it also enables you to improve your level of patient care. If you need assistance with your medical coding tasks, or would simply like a second opinion on work that’s already been completed, HCC Coders can help! We have a team of quality, certified coders that can assist with your medical coding tasks and ensure that you are getting all of the reimbursements that you qualify for. Whether you work with our coders remotely through our propriety software called HCC Navigator, or utilize our coders in house, you can rest assured that your medical coding procedures will run as smooth as ever!