Clear Explanation
Better Understanding
Guidelines Breakdown
Welcome to Medical Coding Tutoring
Here we aim to provide a clear explanation, understanding and breakdown of ICD-10 and CPT Guidelines that teaches students basic principles for proper diagnosis and procedural medical coding.
Medical Coding- A Brief History
The ICD-9 diagnosis coding system started in England in the 17th century. Statistical data was gathered through a system known as the London Bills of Mortality and arranged into numerical codes. These codes were used to measure the most frequent causes of death.
Most documentation was either handwritten or transcribed and sometimes typed on an electric typewriter in the 1980’s The staff of medical offices were trained as medical assistants, which was a general title to cover all aspects of work within a medical office including patient care, reception, transcription, coding and billing, filing, insurance verification, etc.
Coding was done using a superbill or chargemaster, marked by the physician. Surgical services and procedures were entered into computer software billing systems and claims printed and mailed to insurance companies. Insurance and patient payments received via mail were entered into the same software program and monthly statements, showing a patient’s balance, were printed and mailed.
Medical coders, as a specific job title, were a rare commodity, as the CPT codes were still evolving rapidly.
Due to the ever-changing nature of medicine and healthcare, the WHO updated the ICD-9 system to the ICD-10 system when they published the 10th revision in 1994.
Within the past 20 years, medical coding has evolved significantly!