The Importance of having a Certified Medical Coder in your Practice

Medical coding is one of the most critical components in any medical practice. Accuracy is critical to patient safety, rapid payments and efficient operations. It requires skilled professionals who can read, interpret, record and track complex medical information quickly, maintain patient confidentiality and pay strong attention to detail. It is the translation of medical reports into a short code summarizing, otherwise cumbersome medical reports, into efficient and data-friendly codes.

Medical coding professionals ensure that codes are applied correctly during the medical billing process. They abstract the information from physician documentation, assign the appropriate codes, and create a claim to be paid by insurance carriers. Each claim is a charge, the opportunity to earn revenue. Certified coders help maximize potential revenue while ensuring compliance with payer rules.

I have great appreciation for medical coders. Since working for Lighthouse Healthcare Advisors for the past three years, I have become very involved with the coding and auditing process. I assist by completing the pre-audit process, which entails data input of pertinent patient information and medical codes. By reading the notes and becoming familiar with the rules to select the appropriate codes, I have an appreciation for the complexity of the coding process. I understand how important it is to have a certified medical coder reviewing claims and advising providers on proper medical record documentation.

I look forward to being able to provide value as a medical coder in the future. Please join me at the AAPC instructed course starting on Tuesday, August 22 at Lighthouse Healthcare Advisors office located in Cockeysville.