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Setting A Realistic Budget

When I decided to budget a little more carefully, I had no idea how difficult it would be. Fortunately, I was able to talk with a few financial advisors who were able to point me in the right direction. One of the best pieces of advice I received was about setting a realistic budget. I learned how to effectively manage my money, so that I didn't have to worry about paying my bills or letting my accounts overdraft. This blog is designed to help people like me who have previously struggled with money. Check out these articles for financial advice that might help you to set a realistic budget.

Setting A Realistic Budget

3 Challenges Faced By Medical Oncology Coders

by Leo Austin

Any area of specialized medicine can present unique challenges for the individuals tasked with coding any medical services provided. Oncology can be a particularly challenging specialty area since there is such a wide range of treatment options that each have their own unique code. Understanding the challenges that an oncology coder faces each day will help specialists in this area of medicine appreciate the need for educated and experienced medical coders.

1. Identifying the Right Code

The right code must be assigned to a medical service in order for insurance companies to make timely payments. Oncology medical coders face special challenges in identifying the right codes to use on a daily basis.

The same medical procedure (like the insertion of a port or the administration of chemotherapy) can have several codes assigned to it. Each code signifies a different level of severity.

If the wrong code is chosen, an oncology office may not be able to collect payment from an insurance provider. The medical coders working in oncology offices should be able to clearly identify the severity of a treatment so that the correct code can be assigned to that treatment.

2. Including the Right Information

Additional supporting information must be submitted to an insurance company along with the right code to ensure payment for oncology services. It is up to the physicians to create this documentation, but it usually falls on the shoulders of the medical coder to collect and summarize the information.

Typical examples of information that an insurance company wants to receive with a coded medical bill include the anatomical location of a treatment, whether treatment has been received in the past, and any other pertinent information about the patient's history. Without this supporting information, a request for payment could be denied by the insurance provider.

3. Using Extreme Specificity

Many oncology bills are denied by insurance providers due to a lack of specificity. So many of the codes that are used by specialists are used to label procedures that are very similar to one another.

Without great specificity in terms of the supporting information provided along with a list of coded services, an insurance company can question the validity of the services rendered by an oncology specialist. Coders are required to review every bill and ensure it is specific and detailed enough to be processed through for payment before sending the bill off to an insurance provider.

For help with medical oncology coding, reach out to a company like Oncology Convergence Inc.

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