A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

What do hospitals do with their coding books from the prior year? - curious

Posted: May 23, 2014

I was just wondering since each year the coding books are updated, what do hospitals do with the previous year's books? There hasn't been an update to ICD-9 since 2012? Correct?

Thank you,

Options - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Some hospitals do not use code books since the contents of the books are in their software.

If there are books, they should be kept for as long as necessary for reference, audits, coding old claims, revisiting old issues, etc. You might need to retrieve data, for instance, and need to know what codes to look for over a range of years. Most coders keep their books at least several years. Facilities may just keep one set.

There has not been any sizeable ICD-9 update since 2012. Nothing you can't enter by hand, so new books might not have been written. That is only ICD-9, though. The other code sets changed.

Fun craft idea! - Waste not, want not!

[ In Reply To ..]
Consider making useful craft items! Simply fold the outside upper corner of each page down the inner margin, so you end up with a triangle. It won't go all the way to the bottom edge. Crease the fold. Do the same with the covers, then pull the covers back and staple them together.

Now you have a Christmas tree! Spray paint it any festive color you like -- gold is especially nice.. You can apply a little glue to the edges and dip it in glitter, or glue on decorations.

Burn them? - Stranger things have happened.

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Similar Messages:

Jan 24, 2012

Here goes, I used to do billing for 10 years but always in the setting of medical offices (PCP, ortho, PT/OT) and also at a medical supply company. I've also been doing MTing during this same time and presently. I haven't done any billing in approximately 2 yrs, so I know that I'm a bit behind as to how the insurance companies are processing claims, and I realize those rules change pretty frequently, especially coding rules pertaining to Medicare/Medicaid. I also have experience ...

Jun 09, 2010

Does anyone recommend any beginning coding books to explore the field of coding and possibly get a head start while I am awaiting school? Thanks so much. ...

Mar 17, 2012

We are using the book "Basic ICD-9-CM Coding." I would like to know what other books other schools are using for Coding I. I do not think this book is the best for me! Can anyone suggest any others? ...

May 11, 2010

or is EVERYTHING on line. Wondering how hard it would be to backtrack to study for exams? ...

Aug 16, 2012

Now that I have your attention . . .it is THAT TIME of year again. Before you order your 2013 code books, remember that there is only one ICD-9 diagnosis code change for 2013. You do not need to buy a new book this year. Just get the change from the CDC website and add it by hand. Same with the procedures. There will be a gazillion CPT changes, sad to say, so get a head start on those. The CPT books should be available soon, if not already. The AMA publishes ...

Nov 17, 2011

I know Andrews is the school recommended for MT training, but is it equally recommended for coding school? I'm looking into community colleges, etc., but wanted to check into online schools as well. Do hospitals respect Andrews as much as they would a community college degree for coding? ...

Oct 06, 2013

There was a post elsewhere about a coding program requiring 2 years. If you are considering coding, please be aware that a 2-year program would be very unusual. I have not seen one, other than possibly some for-profit diploma-mill "billing coding degree" affairs, which I don't think anyone here would recommend. Please be careful that you understand what the requirements and legitimate options are. ...

Apr 30, 2014

Hello. I was wondering if there is a best time of year to start coding school so I wouldn't have to buy many more books or new books when having to take an exam. I know a lot of factors would go into this, such as how long it would take me to do the course, but was wondering anyway. I plan to go through Andrews. Thanks so much for your input! ...

Mar 05, 2010

At my age, should I try to go to school for medical biilling/coding or just stay wtih transcription or try another job (JoAnn Fabrics, etc.). I am 54 and not sure what to do. Any ideas out there? If coding, what schooll(s) are good on-line or in AZ or OH? Thanks! ...

Mar 16, 2014

After your six months of training, they put you on production and you are unable to meet their standards with accuracy or amount of charts? Are you guaranteed to have a job for two years? Yes, they are paying for your schooling, so you owe them two years, but you WILL be spending your time studying and supposedly the program is very intense -- do you get a guarantee for employment for that long? ...

Sep 09, 2011

.. ...

Jul 08, 2014

Can anyone please tell me how to get in to look at reports you were audited on? I go into the Fluency Transcription Manager and then Job Search, but from there I don't know what to do. Thanks! ...

Dec 17, 2014

can I just choose to do easy WTs? The holy grid doesn't distinguish between difficult and easy WT, does it ? I just thought about this yesterday. Can we demand to be put on an easy progress note acct or something for easy peasy? ...

Mar 15, 2010

I am amazed at the huge mistakes I am seeing in finished reports. Who hyphenates left hip hemiarthroplasty? (The report shows left-hip hemiarthroplasty). That's a minor example.... Worrisome. ...

May 01, 2013

We no longer have jobs waiting in a que for us (2 jobs loaded so you don't have to wait for the download. ...

Feb 10, 2014

x ...

Dec 30, 2009

ty ...

Aug 10, 2010

I gave before thinking about. Now I am wondering should I have done such a thing. If have had some financial issues due to the economy and my credit is horrible. House almost went into foreclosure and such. Consistently ran out of work until I took a full time in-house position. ...

May 03, 2011

This is dictated in the med list: Xylocaine prn s/l staph coaliginase prior to domomer on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I have no idea what this could mean. He could be butchering staph coagulase in the first part, but I still have not idea how that fits in. The second part seems like a dialysis schedule and the word sounds like it starts with a "d", but can't really hear dialysis. Any ideas?? ...

Jan 24, 2013

deduction totals? There used to be a running ytd total of insurance deductions and on these stubs showing in new Nuance self-serve, the info is missing? I noticed when I went to do taxes and was looking for the total. ...

Jan 25, 2011

? ...

Jun 25, 2010

She also describes having increasing s/l discolor with vision because of cataracts and prior eye surgery. ...

Jan 29, 2014

I have been dinged for something that I know I did not do, is there a way to go back and see your header and if you pended report and if so what you put there. I know I pended this and they are telling me I did not. Thanks ...

May 06, 2011

xx ...

Mar 19, 2013

I am looking for a way to search for terms and/or phrases across all reports using the Prior Report feature in the EMDAT/Inscribe program. For example, I pull up the prior progress notes for Dr. **** because I am looking for some of the phrases he uses in the Physical Exam section or a particular phrase or a word, etc. Is there a search feature where I can type in “Physical Exam” and the program will search and stop on each of these instances from the prior report listing until I fin ...

Jan 31, 2010

i'm starting a new orthopedic acount. is there any reason for me to get orthopedic books like stedmans, or is it all out there on the web? does anyone have any experience with this? thanks! ...

Dec 26, 2010

I really want to be the best MT I can be. ...

May 25, 2012

This one really got me today....doc dictating a review of systems VR. Self-explanatory I think. Dictated: Genitourinary. Speech wreck: Jenny Toe Urinary This system will never work!!! LOL ...

Apr 02, 2011

nm ...

Nov 20, 2009

Question regarding use of reference books....I've been working for the same transcription company for 10 years and have kept very busy in that time, but as of the last six months, they have lost accounts and work has dropped off significantly. I applied for a job last week that asked me which reference books I currently use. To be honest, I haven't renewed any of my reference books in about 8 years, as I found it to be much, much quicker to locate terms via the Internet if you ...