How are medical codes assigned, and what is the process of medical coding?
Medical coding is a standardized system that enables healthcare practitioners to communicate about the medical services they provide to insurance companies and government agencies. It is the process of giving standardized codes to medical diagnoses, operations, and services for the purpose of invoicing and reimbursement. These codes facilitate accurate and consistent communication about healthcare services among healthcare practitioners, insurance providers, and governmental organizations . Healthcare uses a number of classification systems , including the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), and the Healthcare Common Procedure classification System. (HCPCS). For accurate and consistent coding, each system has its own set of rules and codes that must be observed. The method of giving standardized codes to medical diagnoses, procedures, and treatments is ...