Hcr 220 Week 7 Checkpoint

Three of the most common billing and coding errors are typos (typing mistakes), double billing and incorrect dates. Typos, otherwise known as typing mistakes may occur when entering a patient’s demographic information such as the patient’s name, date of birth and the patient’s address. Double billing occurs when the health care provider attempts to bill a patient for two procedures when the patient only had one procedure done. An example of this could be if a patient’s surgery lasted for an hour but was recorded for three hours by mistake or if a patient was prescribed one pill and receives a bill for being prescribed for two pills. Incorrect dates could be part of a few different errors within billing and coding, for instance, a patient may was admitted and then discharged 9 days later but is billed for being hospitalized for 12 days.

Errors in coding and billing can be easily solved and prevented. Patients could take a proactive step and review discharge papers and medical statement received by mail, to ensure that there isn’t any type of mistake or incorrect dates so that double billing may not occur. If a patient does discover an error, than the patient or patient advocate may compose a detailed letter of the problem found as well as the correct information. If no response is received, the health care provider must be contacted, if still no response then the state’s consumer protective office must be notified.

Improper coding that may lead to incorrect payment for Medicare claims is controlled by the Medicare National Correct Coding Initiative (CCI). Their coding policies are derived from the coding guidelines of the national medical societies; Medicare’s national and local payment policies and coverage; Medicare’s analyses of standard surgical and medical practices; and CPT coding conventions.