Uncover the World of Medical Coding
Written by Janine Mothershed, CPC, CPC-I, CADS, CAC, Founder and Instructor of Coding Clarified, an AAPC licensed medical coding school. Janine has worked as a medical coder since 2005. Every guideline post here is kept current to the latest code year so you can study and code with confidence.
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Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Certification: Requirements, Cost and Exam
Certified Professional Coder (CPC) requirements, exam cost, format and salary, explained by a CPC-I coding since 2005, plus how to earn your CPC step by step.
Read the CPC certification guide
What Is Medical Coding? Definition, Code Sets, and How to Get Started (2026)
What is medical coding? Learn what a medical coder does each day, the code sets used, coding vs billing, and how to become a medical coder,…
Read what medical coding is
CPT Updates 2027: 299 New Codes, 80 Deleted Codes, 74 Revisions & Major Changes
The CPT 2027 code set adds 299 codes, deletes 80 and revises 74. See the major changes coders and billers must prepare for before January 1,…
See the CPT 2027 updatesLatest Posts
ICD-9 vs ICD-10 vs ICD-11: What Medical Coders Need to Know (2027)
The US uses ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS. ICD-9 retired in 2015, and ICD-11 took effect at WHO in 2022 but is not adopted in the US. Here is how they compare.
F41.1 and F33.2 ICD-10 Codes: Anxiety and Recurrent Severe Depression (FY2027)
F41.1 is generalized anxiety disorder and F33.2 is major depressive disorder, recurrent severe without psychotic features. See the F33 code table and coding tips.
Palliative Care ICD-10 Code: Z51.5 Coding Guide (FY2027)
The ICD-10-CM code for an encounter for palliative care is Z51.5. Learn how to report it with the condition being treated and what POA exempt means.
Dyspepsia ICD-10 Codes: R10.13 vs K30 Functional Dyspepsia (FY2027)
Dyspepsia NOS codes to R10.13, not K30. Learn when to use K30 functional dyspepsia, R12 heartburn, and F45.8 for psychogenic dyspepsia.
Knee Pain ICD-10 Codes: Right, Left, and Bilateral (FY2027)
Knee pain ICD-10 codes are M25.561 for the right knee, M25.562 for the left knee, and M25.569 for unspecified. Learn how to code bilateral knee pain.
UTI ICD-10 Code: N39.0 and Organism Coding (FY2027)
The ICD-10-CM code for a urinary tract infection, site not specified, is N39.0. Learn when to add an organism code like B96.20 and when a specific site code applies.
Can You Learn Medical Coding With No Healthcare Experience? (2026)
Can you learn medical coding with no healthcare experience? Yes. Many of our students have never worked in healthcare. You do need to learn anatomy, medical terminology, and the code sets, and that takes steady study....
HCPCS Modifiers in 2026: Level II Modifier List and How to Use Them
HCPCS modifiers explained for 2026: ABN, anatomic, anesthesia, ambulance, DMEPOS and drug wastage modifiers, plus a quick reference table for coders.
Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Certification: Requirements, Cost and Exam
Certified Professional Coder (CPC) requirements, exam cost, format and salary, explained by a CPC-I coding since 2005, plus how to earn your CPC step by step.