Final answer:
Not following all the steps for assigning ICD-10-CM codes can lead to inaccurate billing and rejected insurance claims, potentially causing financial loss to healthcare providers and affecting patient care.
Step-by-step explanation:
One potential negative impact of not following all of the steps for assigning ICD-10-CM codes is the possibility of inaccurate billing, which can lead to rejected insurance claims or even financial loss to the healthcare provider. Knowing the correct ICD-10-CM code is crucial for ordering appropriate tests, prescribing the right treatments, and ensuring accurate medical record-keeping. An incorrectly assigned code can result in billing for unnecessary procedures or failing to bill for necessary ones, thereby compromising patient care and impacting healthcare statistics.