Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System: A Case Study

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Healthcare common procedure coding system (HCPCS) is a coding system developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that is used in coding services for Medicare, Medicaid, and other private insurance plans patients. HCPCS contains Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes which are often thought of as a separate system, but CPT is part of HCPCS. HCPCS codes does not provide information of diagnoses, but just what procedures were performed. In this crosspost, the author will elaborate on the original threaded discussion by Gatlin, Mburu, Jackson, and Hunt and add additional information on HCPCS. Gatlin, Mburu, Jackson, and Hunt mentioned that all healthcare providers are obligated to code correctly claims for the services …show more content…

In additional to the original threaded discussion, level one codes are based on the documentation used for CPT. The Healthcare portability and protection act (HIPPA) of 1996, mandated that all claims be reported using HCPCS. HIPAA made HCPCS codes mandatory for billing and coding. It is also very important that every claim and any medical information is done through and acted by HIPPA regulation to ensure the patients privacy. When a patient first visit a medical facility a copy of the notice of privacy must be provided to the patient, this will explain how to exercise his or her rights under HIPAA. In addition to the threaded discussion, HIPPA is of importance because it protects any information in which individuals can identify the patient, their health and history such as their name, social security number, contact, and billing information, and insurance ("American Medical Association ," 2015). HCPCS level two codes is one of the most popular coding systems because it is so widely used and is accepted by many healthcare facilities using private and public insurers. Gatlin, Mburu, Jackson, and Hunt mentioned that level two codes are used to identify products, supplies, and services not included in the CPT codes. Some examples include ambulance services and …show more content…

The authors also showed how HCPCS codes are used when healthcare providers provides education to the patient and/or their family. Gatlin, Mburu, Jackson, and Hunt briefly discuss International Classification of Disease 10th edition (ICD-10) and how healthcare providers have to adopt to a completely new alphanumeric language. In conclusion, Gaitlin, Mburu, Jackson, and Hunt has thoroughly discuss HCPCS and how important it is in healthcare billing. The authors provided two examples on HCPCS and CPT codes are used to help ensure accurate documentation for billing. HCPCS are codes that cover many supplies such as sterile trays, drugs, and durable medical equipment and the codes also cover services and procedures not included in the

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