Wednesday, September 16, 2009

CPT codes: How to get started

In order to use Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding, you’ll need to have sound knowledge in the general medical parlance. This is inclusive of medical terminology basics as well as a good understanding of human anatomy and physiology. CPT is segmented into three categories of codes:


• Category I: These are procedures that are consistent with contemporary medical practice and are used extensively.


• Category II: These are supplementing tracking codes that can be used for performance measures.


• Category III: These are temporary codes for emerging technology, services and procedures.


There are several sources of access for the CPT codes, both online and offline. You can check out a CPT coding website, which offers free study guides, tutorials and assessments that can help you in your understanding of specific CPT codes and the overall coding process.


Instead of looking at CPT coding as one big picture, it makes more sense to break it down into smaller ones that are easier to comprehend. You need to spend a fair amount of time learning about Category I codes before moving on to the others. This will give you a solid foundation and the confidence to go further. You’ll also get more insight by visiting the websites of different insurance companies, CMS, and others.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Tips to fill health insurance claim forms

Filling a health insurance claim form is not too difficult a task, but some people do run into troubled waters while doing so. Keeping a few things in mind will certainly help you file your claim better so that you don’t land in any spot.



Before you get your health insurance claim form, the first thing that you need to procure is an itemized bill from your doctor, listing all the services that he has provided you with along with the cost of each of those services. This is something that you will need to attach to your health insurance claim form.



After this, reach out to your health insurance company to procure a health insurance claim form. If you have any query, get them clarified then and there before filling up the form. It will question you on things such as insurance information, what was the visit for, among other things.




After you’re done with filling up the claim form, make sure you keep duplicate copies of the filled out form as well as of the itemized bill obtained from your doctor. This will do away with any error that may be made in the claim process and make your task easier in case your health insurance claim gets lost. In fact make copies of everything that is going to be involved in the process.



Last but not the least, a very important part of the process is to review it. See to it that everything’s in place before you send it off because you wouldn’t want even a small mistake to throw things out of gear. Find out how long it’s going to take it get backs to you.



Following these tips while filling up health insurance claim forms is certainly the way to go!