I’ve worked in health care for many years, and while providers face their fair share of challenges, there’s one question that I’ve noticed almost always bubbles to the top - who do I ask about coding questions? This can be especially distracting as they attempt to focus their efforts on providing the best medical care.

Why Coding is So Difficult

Coding appears to be a thorn in everyone’s side. Why is that? Well, imagine having to enter codes on patients 30+ times a day! Currently, to determine whether you’ve made the correct E&M (evaluation and management) code selection, providers must successfully meet each criterion of the 1997 Documentation Guidelines for E&M Services. Yes, you read that correctly, 1997!

Let’s take a look at charge code 99213 as an example. While this may seem like a straight-forward, low-level subsequent visit, think again! To correctly select this code, you need to meet two of the following three requirements: 1) an expanded problem-focused history; 2) an expanded problem-focused examination; and/or 3) medical decision-making of low complexity. But, that’s not all. Now answer the following question; how do you define and determine expanded and low complexity? Each of the previously required components is broken down even further into several categories and elements that need to be considered.

As you can see there are many variables that go into selecting the correct code. The question many providers are left with is: who has time to reference the various guides and available resources when trying to complete a patient visit? Unfortunately, inaccurate coding can lead to significant penalties and lost revenue.

The Consequences of Medical Coding Errors

The good news is that changes are coming. Starting in 2021, time-based billing will be available for applicable services, dramatically reducing the complexity associated with code selection. CMS alone has reported a 9.2% monetary loss due to incorrect coding and 55.2% loss due to insufficient documentation in the CY of 2019. If you were to submit an incorrect claim to the government, this would violate the Federal Civil False Claims Act (FCA). Penalties may include substantial fines and even possible imprisonment. As frightening as those repercussions are, the most common consequence of medical coding errors is not receiving reimbursement from the insurance carriers.

It’s about time we actually apply the infamous motto “patients over paperwork” and remove the providers’ burden of having to recite coding guidelines. Thus, eliminating the fear of possible sanctions due to inaccurate coding.

pMD Helps Solve Coding Problems & Meet Medical Billing Needs

At pMD, we can create customized edits designed to prompt providers to select accurate codes based on specific parameters and requirements, such as charge code or diagnosis criteria, NCCI edits, patient demographics, and much more. This is a quick, seamless process that enables the provider and biller to feel confident in their code selection. Just a few extra clicks based on prompts can assist with accurate and timely claims submission. Additionally, it can result in quicker payment turnaround as well as the appropriate utilization of E&M codes.

pMD is continuously evolving to serve the medical billing needs of practices. Contact us to learn more about how pMD can best assist you and your practice!

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