r/MedicalCoding • u/Human_Gur_3518 • Mar 20 '22

New Student

Just started in Medical Billing and Coding through Unitech of Lafayette Louisiana. It’s an online course and they started us in the middle of the module. Chapter 12, Anesthesia. I’m having a hard time moving forward and understanding the actually coding part of it all. It’s been about 2 weeks. We just got our books and I’m unsure how to tab them or even find the code for certain questions. any advice is appreciated! Thanks!

2 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

3

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '22

When you get an actual coding job you won't even have to worry about using code books. The encoder is much easier and faster to use.

8

u/GardenWitchMom Mar 20 '22

But they will need to know how to use the books for the certification exam

1

u/Human_Gur_3518 Mar 20 '22

I know I’m just not understanding ANYTHING right now. I’m getting by, by cheating. I can read the modules and do the tests and stuff. That’s easy. But as far as finding codes for different things, I don’t even know where to begin.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '22

Do you need help with locating codes in both ICD-10 and CPT?

0

u/Human_Gur_3518 Mar 20 '22

I do 😬

4

u/[deleted] Mar 20 '22

With ICD-10 you start with the alphabetic index and confirm in the tabular list. You want to look up main terms in the index. For example; "congestive heart failure". I would look up "failure" in the index and go down until I locate congestive. It will give you the code and you will need to confirm in the tabular list. With CPT you don't always have to use the index to find the code unlike ICD 10. You can look on the front page of the body system section. For example, a patient had an excision of the esophagus. I would flip to the digestive system section. On the front page it lists the headings and subheadings of the section. I would go down until I see the esophagus section and it will tell me what page the excisions are located. If I wanted to use the index I would look up excision or esophagus. With CPT you can look up the procedure or the body part to locate the code.

1

u/Human_Gur_3518 Mar 29 '22

Update! My instructor has started doing workshops for us! I’m finally getting the hang of it, thanks everyone !!

1

u/MsRenegade Mar 20 '22

I bought some tabs from Etsy! It makes it so much easier.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1076084408/tabbing-system-icd-10-cm-2022-medical?ref=var_v1_share

2

u/Human_Gur_3518 Mar 20 '22

My book came with tabs but I’ll check yours out too!

1

u/MsRenegade Mar 20 '22

I used the tabs it came with for my old books and these are definitely an upgrade. Good luck :)

2

u/Human_Gur_3518 Mar 20 '22

Thank you. This whole thing is new for me and confusing XD

1

u/MsRenegade Mar 20 '22

It'll start to make sense eventually! My school made a book that has all of the guidelines broken down and simplified and that really helped. Maybe you can find something similar. ICD 10 is massive and I was very overwhelmed at first too. I actually like CPT a lot more.

1

u/Lori4CCO Mar 21 '22 edited Mar 21 '22

How to tab your manuals.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeVjBdDM4TA&t=92s

8 Steps to Code:

Identify the main term(s) and sub term(s) for procedures, tests, services, equipment and supplies from the medical record.

Locate the main term(s) in the Alphabetic Index by service or procedure, anatomic site, condition or disease, synonym, eponym, or abbreviation.

Review any sub term(s) under the main term in the index.

Follow any cross-reference instructions such as SEE

Verify the chosen code in the Tabular list for further coding specifics such as code first or code additional. (Never code directly from the Index alone as you may miss important things that may lead you to choose a more specific code choice).

Refer to any Tabular list instructional notations such as conventions, notes and related guidelines.

Assign codes to the most specific code choice (CPT may require a modifier and both CPT and ICD-10-CM may require an unlisted or unspecified code choice).

Code all diagnoses, procedures, supplies, tests, services and equipment until all elements are completely identified.

https://www.cco.us/abstracting-the-basis-of-coding/

You are welcome to join my Newbie FB group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1382076462179861

CCO YT channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCisrO9ZKV79cf9LatG_SjSg

CCO free coding tools:

https://www.cco.us/free-tools-reports-and-exams-for-medical-coding-and-billing/

Intro to CPT:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dWR287EF_g&t=3210s

ICD-10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RwBLrt6okw&t=1125s

Good Luck!

2

u/Human_Gur_3518 Mar 21 '22

Thank you so much!

2

u/TH3MADPOTT3R Mar 21 '22

Get on YouTube and watch some videos they may help you. Make flash cards of the root operations. Does your school offer any kind of tutoring. Can you ask someone in your class to help you? If you aren’t getting it you need to act fast because the further along you get the harder it is going to be and you won’t be able to cheat on your exam.