What is Medical Coding?

Medical coding is the act of assigning codes to specific diagnoses and procedures to be used on bills issued by medical providers. This system makes it easier to identify claims by displaying the patient’s entire medical history along with the services that have been performed.

A coder will take the medical provider’s notes and convert them to ICD-10-CM and HCPCS Level I and Level II codes that are then sent to the insurance company for payment. These various insurance companies include medical plans provided by the government such as Medicare and Medicaid.

Once received by the insurance companies, the codes are analyzed. If the coding has been accurately applied, the provider is given payment for their services.

The medical coding training received at LS Coding and Education is a comprehensive training program with a certification process that produces medical coders who specialize in coding.

Course Delivery

The premier organization that is responsible for offering training and certification in the area of outpatient medical coding is the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Once an individual has successfully passed the AAPC National Examination, they will receive the nationally recognized certification Certified Professional Coder. The AAPC is the largest organization of its kind, with over 93,000 medical coders and auditors.

The AAPC has impressive credentials that focus on outpatient treatments including CPC certification which represents the highest level of coding expertise and the strictest of ethical standards. AAPC-credentialed coders are the coders that are preferred by both physicians and payer organizations. AAPC Certified Professional Coders offer a first-line of defense for preventing non-compliance and down-coding in the medical provider’s practice. They help to prevent legal issues and make sure that the medical providers receive their reimbursement in a timely manner.

Many people who are looking to answers to what is medical coding will also want to know more about the courses that they must take in order to achieve the level of skills, required to become certified. To learn more, watch our videos and read more about the individual courses we have available. The outlook is bright for anyone who is interested in a career as an AAPC Certified Professional Coder.