1. Join coding organizations. There are several coder-specific organizations that provide members with updated information about coding changes as well as updates in government billing regulations, including Medicare. Members can focus their attention on their workload instead of researching the changes themselves. “It would be difficult if you were working in an office and trying to do coding and you had to do all of the research yourself,” says Ms. Nicoletti. “There’s no substitute for getting newsletters and going to courses. You’ve got to stay educated.”
2. Keep resources handy. Because there are so many codes and complicated citation rules, Ms. Nicoletti suggests coders keep either a print or electronic sourcebook handy. Additionally, there are several coding websites that can be helpful. However Ms. Nicoletti warns coders to take websites with “a grain of salt,” as sometimes the posters are not professionals. When looking through websites, check for citations in order to validate or reinforce the given information.
3. Review documentation clearly. Many coding mistakes result from coders who gloss over the CPT definitions. “CPT is literal—they choose their words very carefully,” said Ms. Nicoletti. Additionally, not linking the diagnosis properly with the service performed can be a common coder error. If this happens, the payor will deny the claim, which will be sent back to the coder. Then, the coder must fix their mistake and resubmit the claim.
Learn more about Betsy Nicoletti.
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