Must-Have Resources For Accurate And Denial-Free Coding

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In this ever-changing healthcare industry where new procedures and treatments are being discovered every day, and your coding manual is changing every year to reflect the latest methods of diagnoses and treatment, it is not easy to track all these huge number of changes. If looking up the complex coding manuals ensure a slick oncology coding is causing you stress, these helpful tools will practically choose the code for you. Here's what coding experts suggest for types of useful references that will meet your traditional, and newer, high-tech needs.

Choose a good medical dictionary

You cannot always go to your physician to seek clarification about medical terminology. When in confusion or when you simply want to learn the meaning of a term or know its pronunciation, switch to a dictionary and reduce your stress!

A number of medical dictionaries, these days, publish multimedia versions, and you can also download them in your mobile phone too for a quick and ready reference.

The dictionary can help you learn about the non-recognizable diagnoses that are difficult to locate in your manuals. You can also learn more about the terms and procedure from the detailed illustrations. An abbreviations dictionary can help you understand the abbreviations and acronyms that your physician so commonly uses in his documentation.

Always use the most current coding references

Never ever use any old manuals for CPT® codes lookup. CPT®, ICD-9-CM, and HCPCS manuals are updated every year, and a number of codes are deleted, added, or revised in them. If you don't update your manuals, you run the risk of facing denials due to inaccurate or outdated coding.

Remember that the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits are the most authoritative source on what you can and cannot bill separately. You can either buy the entire NCCI publication or a specific portion you need for your practice. This indispensable resource can help you avoid bundling issues and ensure complete reimbursement.

Another useful book that you must have in your resource bank is a coder's reference. You can learn what the procedure codes mean, and the best part is that it is updated every year, so you can understand the meaning of the latest procedure codes.

Need More Help: Google

Internet is a powerful resource, and great a resource it can prove in helping you select the right code, it can also land you in trouble and make you choose a wrong code. It is important that you know the risks and benefits associated with the use of the Internet, and researching your codes well before submitting your claims can help you reduce the chances of errors.

You can also view your payers' policies, learn the latest updates, read healthcare news, and do a lot more on the Internet.

Keep Learning

There is no dearth of knowledge in this world, and you can never know enough. But you can still ace your coding knowledge by learning actively. A number of healthcare firms and institutes organize seminars, workshops and conferences regularly that can help you keep your coding and professional knowledge current.

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