Mastering Medical Coding: An Applied Approach: A Worktext

This practical approach to coding provides a solid foundation in basic coding principles with an emphasis on learning through realistic physician documentation. It prepares students to tackle any coding scenario, from routine to complex. Chapters begin with an emphasis on basic coding documentation and rules to ensure correct coding for ICD-9-CM, CPT-4, and HCPCS. Progressively difficult coding exercises incorporate newly learned skills as readers advance through the material. The worktext portion of the book and the companion student workbook provide progressively difficult real-world exercises that build the necessary skills of identifying the right codes from real-world medical charts. Learning objectives, numerous examples, chapter reviews, and coding reference tools throughout provide the necessary learning tools to fully master basic and advanced coding concepts. Coding reference tools provided near text discussions highlight important chapter points in an easy-to-use form. The approach builds on basic ICD-9-CM and CPT-4 coding concepts rather than demonstrating coding from a body system perspective. These concepts can be applied to even the most difficult and complex coding cases. Text emphasis is on proper review of actual physician documentation and applying basic coding rules as important first steps in the coding process. This emphasis prepares the student to locate and determine the actual "diagnosis" and "procedure" to be coded from the physician documentation, which is a prerequisite skill for locating correct codes, and very important for compliance. Practical Stop and Practice exercises review and build on basic coding concepts throughout each chapter. Chapter review exercises give the student the opportunity to recall and practice what they have learned at the end of each chapter with questions that range from fill-in-the-blank to practical application. A bulleted summary of important points to know follows each chapter to help students master elements they must know in order to pass the physician coding certification exam. An appendix provides a total of 66 Coding Reference Tools with perforated pages that allow students to tear out and customize the tools for use both in the classroom and as a quick reference in the clinical setting. A companion Coding Practice Supplement workbook offers several more coding exercises similar to those found in the workbook portion of the text. The instructor's guide is now a combined print/electronic product, featuring new PowerPoint slides