6.0 of this article can be downloaded to your hard drive. Pa. Accurate procedure coding for the orthopaedic services you provide is vital to your practice. You can use your procedure codes to assess the services you offer under any managed care contracts you might have, analyze those contracts and check your utilization rates. But, of course, the main reason to use procedure codes is to submit bills to third-party payers.
Accurate billing is essential for two reasons.
First, it lets you capture all costs, and thus bill for all services to which you are entitled payment. Second, and most important, accurate, justifiable coding can keep you out of trouble with the federal government. Naturally, where HCFA leads, other payers follow. Expect all of your insurance companies and HMOs to review your records the same way, for the same reasons. Don't let your point of view obscure your approach to coding.