Medical Coding and Ancillary Services: What You Need to Know What Are Ancillary Services? Ancillary services are specialized diagnostic, therapeutic, or support services provided to patients in addition to primary care. They are essential in today’s healthcare system,...
Big Update to PSI-09: New Exclusion Codes & What It Means for Coding / Quality Reporting PSI-09 is one of AHRQ’s (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) Patient Safety Indicators: the rate of postoperative hemorrhage or hematoma requiring treatment following...
Modifier TC & Modifier 26: Guidelines and Tips for Medical Coders When it comes to radiology and certain diagnostic procedures, understanding the difference between the technical component (TC) and the professional component (26) is essential. These medical coding...
MEAT in Medical Coding: Why It Matters In the world of medical coding and risk adjustment, one acronym stands out as the gold standard for validating diagnoses: MEAT. This simple tool helps coders ensure that each diagnosis is accurate, complete, and supported by...
Understanding SOAP Notes in Medical Coding In medical documentation and medical coding, SOAP notes are one of the most widely used formats for recording patient encounters. SOAP stands for Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan. This structured approach ensures...
Billing and Medical Coding Not Elsewhere Classified (NEC) Medical Codes Medical coders frequently encounter Medical Coding “Not Elsewhere Classified” (NEC) codes in the ICD-10-CM, CPT®, or HCPCS coding systems. While these codes can seem confusing at first glance,...
Guidelines & Tips for Preparing for and Taking a Pre-Employment Assessment in Medical Coding Medical coders often face pre-employment assessments as part of the hiring process. These assessments help employers evaluate coding knowledge, problem-solving ability,...
In the healthcare industry, the growing complexity of cyber threats, especially those targeting electronic health records (EHRs) and personal health information (PHI), is becoming an urgent concern. Social engineering remains one of the primary attack methods, with...
For many coders, earning the Certified Professional Coder (CPC®) credential from the AAPC is the first major milestone in their career. It validates a strong foundation in CPT®, HCPCS, and ICD-10-CM coding for physician and outpatient services. But once you’ve...
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of how the FY 2026 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Final Rule—published by CMS on August 4, 2025—and 2026 ICD-10-CM Updates are set to reshape medical coding, documentation, and reimbursement starting October 1, 2025...