Whenever you visit a doctor or hospital for a medical reason, your medical insurance provider will be presented with a bill that contains certain codes for the condition treated. For every medical condition, there is a corresponding medical code that matches it. This aspect is handled in medical coding. California employs the largest number of medical coders in the US.
What is Meant by Medical Coding?
Medical coding is the translation of medical reports and records from doctors using certain universal medical alphanumeric codes to ensure that health care providers are accurately reimbursed for their services. The medical reports may relate to a patient’s condition, symptom, diagnosis, disease, lab and x-ray results, prescription, equipment, medical procedures, injury and so on. The codes are used to prepare a bill for the patient for the services received and for filing reimbursement claims from the insurance carriers. Medical coding in California is much the same as anywhere else in the country.
Benefits of Medical Coding
- Medical coding helps to transfer massive amounts of data and information using short codes.
- Medical coding enables uniform documentation throughout all medical facilities. This uniformity helps in organized research, development, analysis of data and tracking efficiency.
- Medical coding aids the administrative departments to keep track of the efficiency and effectiveness of services provided in their hospitals and analyze data to make improvements in areas that lack efficiency.
Role of Medical Coders
Medical coders read and review the medical records carefully and assign codes to each and every instruction made by the doctor and nurses. It is a detail oriented task. This is not an easy task as it is important to choose the exact code. The coder should be aware of the government rules and regulations related to medical coding in California. He or she should be clear about the private payer policies as well as have professional knowledge in medical coding. California offers a lot of job opportunities to medical coders.
Challenges Faced by Coders in Medical Coding
A small mistake on the part of the coder can cause huge losses to the health care provider. For example, if the coder misses a service, or an item, or chooses the wrong code, then the health care provider will have to bear the brunt of the mistake. In extreme cases, the medical provider may even face legal charges. Again, medical coders working for California based companies should have up to date knowledge of the latest rules and regulations governing medical coding in California. He or she should also understand the medical terminologies used by the doctors. These are some of the challenges faced by medical coders.
