Question

In a physician's office, the health insurance specialist assigns ICD-9-CM codes to:

a. diagnoses, signs, and symptoms documented by the nurse
b. the procedure that was performed during the encounter
c. diagnoses, signs, and symptoms documented by the provider
d. the reason for the patient's visit

Answer 1

The health insurance specialist in a physician's office uses ICD-9-CM codes to document diagnoses, signs, and symptoms as stated by the provider, which is essential for health management and insurance billing.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a physician's office, the health insurance specialist assigns ICD-9-CM codes to diagnoses, signs, and symptoms documented by the provider (option c), which is necessary for accurate billing and statistical purposes in health care management. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) system is essential for healthcare professionals to classify and monitor diseases, assist in the organization of treatments, and facilitate the processing of insurance claims by health insurance companies.

Two locations where ICD codes are frequently utilized are medical laboratories, where they identify tests that must be conducted to confirm a diagnosis, and health-care management systems, where they ensure that all treatments and laboratory work are appropriate for the diagnosis.