Errors And Compliance In Coding

360 Words2 Pages
The first most common coding and billing error is double billing. Double billing is where the patient is billed for two procedures when the patient only received one procedure. Or the patient could be billed for being given two pills when the patient really only got one. The person when he or she receives their bill need to look at the bill to make sure he or she is not being billed for procedures that were not done or for procedures that were not done more than once. A second coding and billing error is typos. Typos could be incorrect dates of service or more operating time than was actually done. These typos can be found on the bill the person receives and if there are discrepancies in the bill, they need to be taken care of, usually by writing a letter to the medical facility or talking with the patient representative. The person should get a detailed bill so he or she is able to look over it well for typos or other errors. A third common coding and billing error is billing for non-covered services or billing over-limit services. The insurance specialists need to make sure he or she is billing for services that are covered and also needs to make sure they are not billing for over-limit services. The effect the Medicare National Correct Coding Initiative has on the billing and coding process is that it controls improper coding that leads to inappropriate payment for Medicare claims. CCI had coding policies that are based on coding conventions in CPT, Medicare nation and local coverage and payment policies, national medical societies’ coding guidelines, and Medicare’s analysis of standard medical and surgical practice (Valerius, Bayes, Newby, & Seggern, 2008). CCI also offers edits, which are used by computers in the Medicare system to check claims. CCI helps to correct and prevent coding and billing errors. This helps to keep the cost of wrongful
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