Every aspect of healthcare service delivery is under scrutiny, as providers face increasing pressure to operate more profitably. Coding, in particular, is one common problem that hospitals, outpatient facilities and medical practices can no longer afford to ignore.

Inaccurate coding often means delay or denial of payment – which in turn reduces cash flow, revenues and profits. Over time, these inaccuracies can have a devastating cumulative effect.

But we can help you quickly reverse that trend by addressing critical gaps in staff awareness that are often overlooked. Through custom education programs, we teach your "front line" clinicians how medical practices support the selection of correct codes, link to medical necessity and facilitate billing compliance.

As a result, non-billing personnel become active participants in the coding process, helping to maintain the integrity of clinical information as it’s transformed into billing information.

WHAT TO EXPECT
Our process typically begins with a thorough examination of clinical staff responsibilities relevant to coding. Next, we look for patterns that reveal consistent coding errors, omissions or misinterpretations. Then, we may revise your policies and procedures to reflect reimbursement best practices.

Once the initial assessment is complete, we instruct your physicians and other non-billing staff in the principles of proper documentation and correct coding, including how to:

		Apply "exam indications" appropriately
		Select correct CPT procedure codes
		Select correct ICD-9 diagnosis codes
		Document medical records properly
		Implement payer medical review policies
		Verify existing billing policies and procedures

This educational process can take several forms, depending on your needs:

		Formal presentation
		Interactive workshop
		Multi-faceted custom project

Regardless of the approach, you’ll see an immediate, dramatic and lasting impact.