Medical Coding

The definitive guide to starting a successful career in medical billing and coding With the healthcare sector growing at breakneck speed—it’s currently the largest employment sector in the U.S. and expanding fast—medical billing and coding specialists are more essential than ever. These critical experts, also known as medical records and health information technicians, keep systems working smoothly by ensuring patient billing and insurance data are accurately and efficiently administered. This updated edition provides everything you need to begin—and then excel in—your chosen career. From finding the right study course and the latest certification requirements to industry standard practices and insider tips for dealing with government agencies and insurance companies, Medical Billing & Coding For Dummies has you completely covered. Find out about the flexible employment options available and how to qualify Understand the latest updates to the ICD-10 Get familiar with ethical and legal issues Discover ways to stay competitive and get ahead The prognosis is good—get this book today and set yourself up with the perfect prescription for a bright, secure, and financially healthy future!

Medical Coding: What It Is and How It Works is the first book to provide an overview of the evolution of medical coding and all the various coding systems. For those contemplating a career in the coding field, this book is ideal as a basic orientation.

Medical coding is a process where you enter abbreviations on medical charts. A pamphlet can be helpful in learning the words and the abbreviations for those words. The abbreviations can be written on index cards so that the student can study for quizzes. Students learn the medical lingos seen on charts where medical coding is used, such as a doctor's office or a hospital.

NEW! Pharmacology in each body system and a Pharmacology Basics appendix help you recognize drugs and medications in medical reports. NEW! More than 50 new images bring terminology to life. NEW! Additional procedural terms supply a more complete picture of the number and kind of procedures you will encounter on medical reports. NEW! Normal Lab Values appendix familiarizes you with normal and abnormal lab values so you know when to search a medical record for possible additional diagnoses. NEW! Tablet and mobile-optimized Evolve activities offer an easily accessible source for extra interactive practice and learning.

Take a real-world approach to coding that prepares you for the AAPC or AHIMA certification exams and for professional practice in any health care setting. The book is also a handy resource you can turn to throughout your career. Unique decision trees show you how to logically assign a code. It's the only text that breaks down the decision-making process into a visual and repeatable process! You’ll learn exactly how to select the correct ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS codes. Each section parallels the Official Coding Guidelines, with a special emphasis on commonly used codes. A wealth of learning tools and tips, along with critical-thinking exercises and real-life case studies, provide the practice you need to master coding. Brief reviews of A&P and pathophysiology put the codes into perfect context.

Exercise by exercise, page by page, this workbook helps you develop into a skilled and proficient coder and to prepare for your AAPC or AHIMA certification exam. Each chapter in the workbook corresponds to a chapter in Conquer Medical Coding: A Critical-Thinking Approach with Coding Simulations, the field’s new standard in coding texts.

Take your first step toward a successful career in medical coding with in-depth coverage from the most trusted name in coding education! Carol J. Buck’s Step-by-Step Medical Coding, 2014 Edition is a practical, easy-to-use resource that shows you exactly how to code using all current coding systems. Explanations of coding concepts are followed by practice exercises to reinforce your understanding. In addition to coverage of reimbursement, ICD-9-CM, CPT, HCPCS, and inpatient coding, this edition provides complete coverage of the ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding system in preparation for the upcoming ICD-10 transition. No other text on the market so thoroughly covers all coding sets in one source! Over 500 illustrations of medical procedures and conditions help you understand the services being coded. Real-life coding reports simulate the reports you will encounter as a coder and help you apply coding principles to actual cases. Complete coverage of ICD-10-CM prepares you for the upcoming transition to ICD-10. Dual coding addresses the transition to ICD-10 by providing coding answers in both ICD-9 and ICD-10. Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting boxes allow you to read the official wording for inpatient and outpatient coding alongside in-text explanations. From the Trenches, Coding Shots, Stop!, Caution!, Check This Out!, and CMS Rules boxes offer valuable, up-to-date tips and advice for working in today’s medical coding field. Exercises, Quick Checks, and Toolbox features reinforce coding rules and concepts, and emphasize key information. Four coding question variations develop your coding ability and critical thinking skills. Coder’s Index makes it easy to quickly locate specific codes. Updated content includes the latest coding information available, promoting accurate coding and success on the job. New appendix with sample Electronic Health Record (EHR) screenshots provides examples similar to the EHRs you will encounter in the workplace.