Bariatric surgery is a life-changing procedure for patients with morbid obesity, but it also requires precise documentation, coding, and billing to ensure compliance and accurate reimbursement. Medical coders must understand not only the procedures themselves, but...
Medical Coding Guidelines & Tips for Brain Aneurysms Overview: What is a Brain Aneurysm? A brain aneurysm (also known as a cerebral or intracranial aneurysm) is a weakened area in the wall of a blood vessel in the brain that bulges or balloons out. It most...
What Makes a Medical Coder Great — Professionally and Personally Becoming a great medical coder goes far beyond memorizing CPT or ICD-10 codes. The coders who truly stand out combine professional skill with personal qualities that make them invaluable to employers,...
The Gold Standard in the Medical Coding Profession When it comes to establishing credibility in the field of medical coding, few credentials carry as much weight as those from the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). For decades, AAPC certifications like...
Understanding ICD-10-CM Excludes 2 Notes In ICD-10-CM, Excludes Notes play a vital role in helping coders choose the correct diagnosis codes. While Excludes 1 notes indicate that two conditions cannot be coded together, Excludes 2 notes have a completely different...
Understanding ICD-10-CM Excludes 1 Notes What Is an Excludes 1 Note? In ICD-10-CM, an Excludes 1 note is a pure exclusion note. It means that the two conditions cannot be reported together because they cannot occur at the same time or are mutually exclusive. When you...
AAPC CPC or AHIMA CCS: Which Credential Is Best for a New Coder and Why When you’re starting out in medical coding, choosing between the AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) and AHIMA Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) can feel overwhelming. Both are respected...
Understanding AHIMA The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is a professional organization that represents health information (HI) professionals across the healthcare industry. Founded in 1928, AHIMA plays a vital role in advancing health...
Medical Coding Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP): Guidelines and Tips Understanding Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP) is a rare lung disease characterized by the accumulation of surfactant (a lipoprotein material) within the...
Medical Coding Deep Infiltrative Endometriosis (DIE): Guidelines & Tips Deep infiltrative endometriosis (DIE) is a severe form of endometriosis where endometrial-like tissue penetrates more than 5 mm below the peritoneal surface. It often affects multiple pelvic...