Medical Coding, 2nd Edition

Introduction

Why You Need to Know About Medical Coding

Medical coding affects everyone’s life, whether we realize it or not. Do these occurrences sound familiar?

You receive a bill from your doctor’s office for a “balance due,” or maybe even “past due.” You don’t remember receiving a previous bill for these charges.

Your insurance company sends you an “explanation of benefits” to tell you they are not going to pay for anything.

You are turned down for life insurance because of your “unfavorable history,” even though you have always been healthy.

Your coinsurance portion of the fees for your surgery turns out to be more than the amount you were quoted because “the code is different.”

Medical coding influences which medical services are paid, how ...