Diagnostic codes are a shorthand method for doctors and health insurance providers to communicate. Every disease has a diagnostic code. The physician provides the health insurer with the code in order to receive reimbursement.
Health insurance companies will only reimburse for certain tests for a particular medical condition. For example, a doctor wouldn’t be reimbursed for a chest x-ray in a patient that had a broken leg. Using a diagnostic code simplifies the billing and reimbursement process.
Diagnostic codes are cataloged as ICD9 or ICD10. ICD is an acronym for International Classification of Diseases and the numbers nine or ten clarify which version of ICD code is being used. Many medical practices are still using ICD9, but eventually they will all move to ICD10.
ICD diagnostic codes are updated as more is learned about a disease. The code numbers are not assigned randomly; instead, similar diseases are grouped together. So, for example, if, in the past, a particular medical ailment was considered a psychiatric condition, but we now know that it is a neurological condition, the condition would need to be reclassified.
There are a variety of reasons why you may want to learn more about diagnostic codes. Reviewing the paperwork sent from your health insurance provider can give you access to the codes that your physician has entered on your chart. This official classification can answer questions that you may have about an undiagnosed medical condition. By understanding the codes, you will learn what your doctor is looking for.
Even if you are not experiencing any health conditions, it makes sense to review the paperwork sent from your health insurance provider. If the diagnostic codes are not related to any testing or condition that you are suffering from then you may be a victim of medical identity theft. In a world where more people are without health insurance, medical identity theft is a growing problem.
While medical identity theft may sound like less of a problem than traditional identity theft, it can have just as great of an impact on your credit. One of the main reasons that people file for bankruptcy is because of outstanding medical bills. If someone uses your identity to receive medical care, you can quickly find yourself under a mountain of bills, no matter how good your insurance plan is.
