subject: HIPAA Compliant Radiology Medical Coding Service [print this page] HIPAA Compliant Radiology Medical Coding Service
Non-compliance to HIPAA coding rules will lead to non-payment of medical claims and cause reimbursement problems for health facilities. The best way for radiology practices and departments to avoid this is to ensure HIPAA compliant radiology medical coding services by outsourcing their coding tasks.
Any healthcare organization coming under HIPAA law is required ensure patient information confidentiality as well as follow a standard set of medical diagnosis procedure codes and coding rules. In fact, reimbursement of all Medicare claims requires the use of these codes. As with other medical specialties, individual radiologists and radiology practices have to use ICD-9-CM codes to describe diseases, injuries, symptoms and conditions, and CPT codes to describe medical and surgical services performed by healthcare providers.
Efficient Coding Solutions for All Radiology Subspecialties
To deliver efficient HIPAA compliant radiology coding services and ensure maximum reimbursement benefits, the service providing firms are equipped with advanced technology, software utilities and a panel of expert coders. They can competently assign ICD-9, CPT and HCPCS coding to interventional radiology procedures such as diagnostic radiology imaging and ultrasound, as well as non-interventional procedures including contrast studies, standard radiographs, magnetic resonance imaging, computerized tomography and single or multiple views. The important medical coding services that outsourcing companies offer are:
DRG/ ICD-9-CM coding validations
ICD-9 coding based on AMA and CMS guidelines
Hospital/ in-patient coding
Medical coding audits
CPT medical coding
Emergency room e-code evaluation
Backlog coding resolution services
ASCS- Ambulatory Surgical Centers Coding
Ensure Security of Radiology Medical Records
HIPAA norms strongly emphasize healthcare professionals to implement security measures to meet government regulations and prevent manipulation or theft of any medical information stored on the systems. In keeping with HIPAA security compliance, reliable medical coding service provider firms ensure:
Secure workstations, storage facility and authorized access
Periodic backup of data
Frequent updates of firewalls and antivirus software
Technical evaluations are performed on a routine basis
128-bit data encryption for all transferred files
Established Provider for Proper HIPAA Adherence
If you plan to outsource the radiology coding jobs of your practice, make sure to select an established service provider that offers effective HIPAA compliant radiology medical coding services at competitive rates.
