Question

When choosing a diagnoses code, an MA consider chooses in order to avoid insurance denial:

A. Coding the appropriate modifier with the diagnosis code.
B. Coding the highest level of specificity

Answer 1

Medical assistants must code diagnoses with the highest specificity and apply appropriate modifiers to avoid insurance denials. ICD codes are used in various medical settings such as labs and healthcare management systems.

Step-by-step explanation:

When selecting a diagnosis code, medical assistants (MAs) should ensure that they are coding the highest level of specificity to avoid insurance denials. It is also important that they are coding the appropriate modifier with the diagnosis code if necessary.

For instance, when a patient has a viral infection, the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes are used extensively throughout the healthcare process. Medical professionals utilize these ICD codes to streamline the ordering of laboratory tests, prescribing of treatments, processing claims for insurance reimbursement, and compiling vital health statistics.

Two locations where ICD codes are commonly found include medical laboratories, where they help identify appropriate tests for confirming a diagnosis, and the health-care management system, where the ICD codes support the verification of treatments and laboratory work.