The importance of coding.

Abstract

Medicare is very serious about claims being correctly coded. For those physicians participating with Medicare, claims will be denied if the ICD-9-CM code is not submitted with all the necessary digits. For those physicians who are non-participating physicians with Medicare, they will first be notified if ICD-9-CM codes are not coded to the greatest level of specificity. After notification, if codes still lack the required digits for specificity, the physician can be fined up to $2,000 per incorrect code.