Wk 3 Alphabetic Index and Tabular List

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University of Phoenix *

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201

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Mechanical Engineering

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Feb 20, 2024

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docx

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Alphabetic Index and Tabular List Matt Johnson University of Phoenix HCR/201 Medical Billing and Coding Kathleen Dehn 11/27/2023
It is essential to use both the Alphabetic Index and the Tabular Index when assigning and locating a code. You need to know where to locate the code and know which code to use for the procedure. The Alphabetic Index has two parts, Index to Diseases and Injuries, and Index to External Causes of Injury, which helps you determine which section to refer to in the Tabular List. The Alphabetic Index does not always provide the full code. The Tabular Index is the actual listing of the codes and their description. You will also find instructions that will help you apply the codes correctly (Medical Coders and Billers, 2023, Locating a code in the ICD-10-CM). Mistakes can be made when billing and coding. The codes are specific for each diagnosis and using the wrong code could result in the patient receiving the wrong care. Here are a couple of examples of the wrong code being used. Something as simple as a missing 2-digit modifier for a knee injury could result in having an MRI done on the wrong knee. Or this extreme case, a wrong code causing a woman’s pregnancy pain medicine to be withheld. Not only does using the wrong code affect the patient’s care, but it also affects the billing process. It can cause payments to be delayed, denied, or limited. Practices and providers that have a history of coding mistakes could face fines or federal penalties for fraud or abuse. (Merem Healthcare Solutions, 2023). As you can see from the examples above the Alphabetic Index and Tabular List are an important first step in the medical coding and billing process along with attention to detail. If there is any questions about the
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