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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 509 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 509

  Designating June 21, 2006, as ``National Professional Medical Coder 
Day'', in honor of the dedication and continued service of professional 
                     medical coders to the Nation.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 13, 2006

   Mr. Hatch (for himself, Mr. Bennett, and Mr. Burr) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Designating June 21, 2006, as ``National Professional Medical Coder 
Day'', in honor of the dedication and continued service of professional 
                     medical coders to the Nation.

Whereas professional medical coders are the sentries of our national health;
Whereas medical coders regularly communicate with physicians and other health 
        care professionals to clarify diagnoses or to obtain additional 
        information in the assignment of alpha-numeric codes;
Whereas medical coders stand as the front line against potential medicare fraud 
        and abuse while assuring that the physician, hospital, and clinic 
        receive the fairest compensation for the services provided;
Whereas medical coders are knowledgeable of medical terminology, anatomy, 
        physiology, and the code sets necessary to serve effectively in their 
        professional role within the health care community;
Whereas medical coders are team players committed to ethical and sound medical 
        documentation and reimbursement practices;
Whereas medical coders work in a variety of health care environments;
Whereas nearly 40 percent of all medical coders in the United States work in 
        hospitals;
Whereas medical coders also work in the offices of physicians, nursing care 
        facilities, outpatient care centers, and home health care providers;
Whereas insurance firms that offer health plans employ professional medical 
        coders to tabulate and analyze health information;
Whereas medical coders in public health departments supervise data collection 
        from health care institutions and assist in research;
Whereas Department of Defense policy requires accurate and prompt documentation 
        and coding of medical encounters within the military health care system 
        to assist military treatment facility operations;
Whereas employment of professional medical coders is expected to grow through 
        2012, due to the increasing number of medical tests, treatments and 
        procedures, and the consequent responsibility to provide the best 
        quality health care in a market-driven economy; and
Whereas on National Professional Medical Coder Day we honor these sentries of 
        our medical community and may each be held to the highest standard in 
        the interest of national health and prosperity: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates June 21, 2006, as ``National Professional 
        Medical Coder Day'';
            (2) commends professional medical coders for their 
        outstanding contributions to this great Nation;
            (3) salutes professional medical coders for their 
        unyielding dedication; and
            (4) encourages all Americans to commemorate this occasion 
        with appropriate programs and activities paying tribute to 
        medical coders and honoring all those who protect the Nation's 
        health.
                                 <all>
```