Medical Coding and Billing Process

If you are interested in medical billing and coding, great! It's one rewarding career and since it's closely allied with the health care profession, it's growing today along with the increase in health care service demands.

However, what is it really all about? If you think you want to start a career in this allied health care service but doesn't really understand what it's all about then read on. In this post I'll do my best to give you the entire medical billing process and help you understand what this sector is all about.

The Medical Billing And Coding Process

Medical Billing and Coding is the activity that starts right at the first check-up of a patient. As soon as a patient walks in a clinic or hospital, the Doctor or his staff will create a detailed medical record for the patient containing personal information as well as the initial diagnoses of the doctor.

A typical patient's record will contain the following:

• Name of the Patient
• Patient's permanent address
• Patient's social security number
• Patient's contact numbers
• and most importantly, the insurance policy identity number of the patient.

Aside from the above personal information, the physician or their staff will also include the following medical information in the patient's record.

• The nature of the patient's illness
• The details of the examination
• The list of medication
• The Doctor's diagnoses
• The suggested treatment

The information above will be used when determining the scope of the health care service, whose total price will later on be claimed from the insurance companies. There are some occasions when the Doctor will not be able to provide a diagnoses immediately. In those cases the reason for the visit will be declared  as purpose of the claim.