What Does a Medical Coding Specialist Do?
Medical coding specialists, also called billing and coding specialists, classify patient medical records by translating written information from charts and notes into specific numeric codes. Using an industry-established system, they analyze the information to code diagnoses and procedures.
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Location
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Medical coding specialists work in a wide variety of locations including hospitals, clinics, dental offices, long-term care facilities, insurance companies, third-party medical billing services and government agencies.
Complex Work
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Physician notes and chart documentation can be extensive. Many times, the coding specialist sorts through a number of procedures and diagnostics to find the most pertinent information.
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Communication
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When documentation is complicated or confusing, the medical coding specialist may need to contact the physician for clarification. Correct classification is important as the codes are used for insurance claims, as well as for Medicare and Medicaid.
Code Manuals
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Medical coding specialists use two manuals listing thousands of codes, along with a third manual for those working with Medicare or Medicaid. Often these specialists do not need to look up codes because they remember so many from working with them on a daily basis.
Data Entry
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After assigning the diagnosis and treatment classifications, the medical coding specialists enter the data into computer records.
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