Common Medical Billing and Coding Terminology Flashcards
1
Q
When a healthcare provider accepts as full payment the amount paid on a claim by the insurance company. This excludes patient responsible amounts such as coinsurance or copay.
A
Accept Assignment
2
Q
When a claim is corrected which results in a credit or payment to the provider.
A
Adjusted Claim
3
Q
The reimbursement amount an insurance company will pay for a healthcare procedure. This amount varies depending on the patients insurance plan. For 80/20 insurance, the provider accepts 80% of the allowed amount and the patient pays the remaining 20%.
A
Allowed Amount
4
Q
One of the medical billing terms referring to the unpaid insurance claims or patient balances that are due past 30 days. Most medical billing software’s have the ability to generate a separate report for insurance aging and patient aging. These reports typically list balances by 30, 60, 90, and 120 day increments.
A
Aging
5
Q
These are typically services a patient requires in a hospital setting that are in addition to room and board accommodations – such as surgery, lab tests, counseling, therapy, etc.
A
Ancillary Services
6
Q
When an insurance plan does not pay for treatment, an appeal (either by the provider or patient) is the process of objecting this decision. The insurer may require documentation when processing an appeal and typically has a formal policy or process established for submitting an appeal. Many times the process and associated forms can be found on the insurance providers web site.
A
Appeal
7
Q
You typically see these medical billing terms on the patient statement. This is the amount of the charges, determined by the patients insurance plan, the patient owes the provider. Many plans have a maximum annual deductible that once met is then covered by the insurance provider.
A
Applied to Deductible (ATD)
8
Q
Insurance payments that are paid directly to the doctor or hospital for a patients treatment. This is designated in Box 27 of the CMS-1500 claim form.
A
Assignment of Benefits(AOB)
9
Q
When a patient requires permission (or authorization) from the insurance company before receiving certain treatments or services.
A
Authorization
10
Q
Person or persons covered by the health insurance plan and eligible to receive benefits.
A
Beneficiary
11
Q
An organization of affiliated insurance companies (approximately 450), independent of the association (and each other), that offer insurance plans within local regions under one or both of the association’s brands (Blue Cross or Blue Shield). Many local BCBS associations are non-profit BCBS sometimes acts as administrators of Medicare in many states or regions.
A
Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
12
Q
A fixed payment paid per patient enrolled over a defined period of time, paid to a health plan or provider. This covers the costs associated with the patients health care services. This payment is not affected by the type or number of services provided.
A
Capitation
13
Q
Simply the insurance company or “carrier” the patient has a contract with to provide health insurance.
A
Carrier
14
Q
Codes for medical procedures or services identified by the 5 digit CPT Code.
A
Category I Codes
15
Q
Optional performance measurement tracking codes which are numeric with a letter as the last digit (example: 9763B).
A
Category II Codes
16
Q
Temporary codes assigned for collecting data which are numeric followed by a letter in the last digit (example: 5467U).
A
Category III Codes
17
Q
Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services. Recently renamed TRICARE. This is federal health insurance for active duty military, National Guard and Reserve, retirees, their families, and survivors.
A
CHAMPUS
18
Q
Medical billing term for a complete submitted insurance claim that has all the necessary correct information without any omissions or mistakes that allows it to be processed and paid promptly.
A
Clean Claim
19
Q
This is a service that transmits claims to insurance carriers. Prior to submitting claims the clearinghouse scrubs claims and checks for errors. This minimizes the amount of rejected claims as most errors can be easily corrected. Clearinghouses electronically transmit claim information that is compliant with the strict HIPAA electronic format standards.
A
Clearinghouse
20
Q
Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. Federal agency which administers Medicare, Medicaid, HIPAA, and other health programs. Formerly known as the HCFA (Health Care Financing Administration). You’ll notice that CMS it the source of a lot of medical billing terms.
A
CMS
21
Q
Medical claim form established by CMS to submit paper claims to Medicare and Medicaid. Most commercial insurance carriers also require paper claims be submitted on CMS-1500’s. The form is distinguished by it’s red ink.
A
CMS 1500
22
Q
Medical Billing Coding involves taking the doctors notes from a patient visit and translating them into the proper diagnosis (ICD-9 or ICD-10 code) and treatment medical billing codes such as CPT codes. This is for the purpose of reimbursing the provider and classifying diseases and treatments.
A
Coding
23
Q
Percentage or amount defined in the insurance plan for which the patient is responsible. Most plans have a ratio of 90/10 or 80/20, 70/30, etc. For example the insurance carrier pays 80% and the patient pays 20%. Note This is AFTER the patient has met the deductible.
A
Co-Insurance
24
Q
This is in reference to the providers accounts receivable. It’s the ratio of the payments received to the total amount of money owed on the providers accounts.
A
Collection Ratio
25
The amount of charges a provider or hospital agrees to write off and not charge the patient per the contract terms with the insurance company.
Contractual Adjustment
26
When a patient is covered by more than one insurance plan. One insurance carrier is designated as the primary carrier and the other as secondary.
Coordination of Benefits (COB)
27
Amount paid by patient at each visit as defined by the insured plan.
Co-Pay
28
Current Procedural Terminology. This is a 5 digit code assigned for reporting a procedure performed by the physician. The CPT has a corresponding ICD-9 diagnosis code. Established by the American Medical Association. This is one of the medical billing terms we use a lot.
CPT Code
29
This is an application process for a provider to participate with an insurance carrier. Many carriers now request credentialing through CAQH. The CAQH credentialing process is a universal system now accepted by insurance company networks.
Credentialing
30
The balance that's shown in the “Balance” or “Amount Due” column of your account statement with a minus sign after the amount (for example $50-). It may also be shown in parenthesis; ($50). The provider may owe the patient a refund.
Credit Balance
31
When claim information is automatically sent from Medicare the secondary insurance such as Medicaid.
Crossover claim
32
Date that health care services were provided.
Date of Service (DOS)
33
Summary of daily patient treatments, charges, and payments received.
Day Sheet
34
amount patient must pay before insurance coverage begins. For example, a patient could have a $1000 deductible per year before their health insurance will begin paying. This could take several doctor’s visits or prescriptions to reach the deductible.
Deductible
35
Physical characteristics of a patient such as age, sex, address, etc. necessary for filing a claim.
Demographics
36
Medical supplies such as wheelchairs, oxygen, catheter, glucose monitors, crutches, walkers, etc.
DME – Durable Medical Equipment
37
Abbreviation for Date of Birth.
DOB
38
When the insurance company reduces the code (and corresponding amount) of a claim when there is no documentation to support the level of service submitted by the provider. The insurers computer processing system converts the code submitted down to the closest code in use which usually reduces the payment.
Downcoding
39
Request by an insurance company or group medical plan by another insurance company or medical plan to determine if other coverage exists.
Duplicate Coverage Inquiry (DCI)
40
Abbreviation for diagnosis code (ICD-9 or ICD-10 code).
Dx
41
Claim information is sent electronically from the billing software to the clearinghouse or directly to the insurance carrier. The claim file must be in a standard electronic format as defined by the receiver.
Electronic Claim
42
An electronic paperless means of transferring money. This allows funds to be transferred, credited, or debited to a bank account and eliminates the need for paper checks.
Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT)
43
Medical billing terms for the Evaluation and Management section of the CPT codes. These are the CPT codes 99201 thru 99499 most used by physicians to access (or evaluate) a patients treatment needs.
E/M
44
Electronic Medical Records. Also referred to as EHR (Electronic Health Records). This is a medical record in digital format of a patients hospital or provider treatment. An EMR is the patient’s medical record managed at the providers location. The EHR is a comprehensive collection of the patients medical records created and stored at several locations.
EMR
45
Individual covered by health insurance.
Enrollee
46
Explanation of Benefits. One of the medical billing terms for the statement that comes with the insurance company payment to the provider explaining payment details, covered charges, write offs, and patient responsibilities and deductibles.
EOB
47
Electronic Remittance Advice. This is an electronic version of an insurance EOB that provides details of insurance claim payments. These are formatted in according to the HIPAA X12N 835 standard.
ERA
48
Insurance where the provider is paid for each service or procedure provided. Typically allows patient to choose provider and hospital. Some policies require the patient to pay provider directly for services and submit a claim to the carrier for reimbursement. The trade-off for this flexibility is usually higher deductibles and co-pays.
Fee For Service
49
Cost associated with each CPT treatment billing code for a providers treatment or services.
Fee Schedule
50
The portion of the charges that are the responsibility of the patient or insured.
Financial Responsibility
51
A Medicare representative who processes Medicare claims.
Fiscal Intermediary (FI)
52
A list of prescription drug costs which an insurance company will provide reimbursement for.
Formulary
53
When a provider receives payment or a patient obtains services by deliberate, dishonest, or misleading means.
Fraud
54
Group Health Plan. A means for one or more employer who provide health benefits or medical care for their employees (or former employees).
GPH
55
Name of the group or insurance plan that insures the patient.
Group Name
56
Number assigned by insurance company to identify the group under which a patient is insured.
Group Number
57
A responsible party and/or insured party who is not a patient.
Guarantor
58
Health Care Financing Administration. Now know as CMS (see above in Medical Billing Terms).
HCFA
59
Health Care Financing Administration Common Procedure Coding System. (pronounced “hick-picks”). Three level system of codes. CPT is Level I. A standardized medical coding system used to describe specific items or services provided when delivering health services. May also be referred to as a procedure code in the medical billing glossary.
HCPCS
60
American Medical Associations Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes.
HCPCS levels Level I
61
The alphanumeric codes which include mostly non-physician items or services such as medical supplies, ambulatory services, prosthesis, etc. These are items and services not covered by CPT (Level I) procedures.
HCPCS levels Level II
62
Local codes used by state Medicaid organizations, Medicare contractors, and private insurers for specific areas or programs.
HCPCS levels Level III
63
Also called Flexible Spending Account. A tax exempt account provided by an employer from which an employee can pay health care related expenses. The current limit is $2600 per year.
Health Savings Account
64
Typically a physician, hospital, nursing facility, or laboratory that provides medical care services. Not to be confused with insurance providers or the organization that provides insurance coverage.
Heathcare Provider
65
Health Insurance Claim. This is a number assigned by the the Social Security Administration to a person to identify them as a Medicare beneficiary. This unique number is used when processing Medicare claims.
HIC
66
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Several federal regulations intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of health care and establish privacy and security laws for medical records. HIPAA has introduced a lot of new medical billing terms into our vocabulary lately.
HIPAA
67
Health Maintenance Organization. A type of health care plan that places restrictions on treatments.
HMO
68
Inpatient, outpatient, or home healthcare for terminally ill patients.
Hospice
69
Also know as ICD-9-CM. International Classification of Diseases classification system used to assign codes to patient diagnosis. This is a 3 to 5 digit number.
ICD-9 Code
70
10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases. Uses 3 to 7 digit. Includes additional digits to allow more available codes. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has set an implementation deadline of October, 2013 for ICD-10.
ICD 10 Code
71
Also referred to as fee-for-service. This is a type of commercial insurance were the patient can use any provider or hospital.
Indemnity
72
An insurance plan in which a provider signs a contract to participate in. The provider agrees to accept a discounted rate for procedures.
In-Network (or Participating)
73
Hospital care unit providing care for patients who need more than the typical general medical or surgical area of the hospital can provide. May be extremely ill or seriously injured and require closer observation and/or frequent medical attention.
Intensive Care
74
Medicare Administrative Contractor.
MAC
75
Insurance plan requiring patient to see doctors and hospitals that are contracted with the managed care insurance company. Medical emergencies or urgent care are exceptions when out of the managed care plan service area.
Managed Care Plan
76
The maximum amount the insured is responsible for paying for eligible health plan expenses. When this maximum limit is reached, the insurance typically then pays 100% of eligible expenses.
Maximum Out of Pocket
77
A provision of the 2009 HITECH act that provides stimulus money to providers who implement Electronic Health Records (EHR). Providers who implement EHR must show “Meaningful Use” and meet certain requirements defined in the act. The incentive is $63,750 over 6 years for Medicaid and $44,000 over 5 years for Medicare. Providers who do not implement EHR by 2015 are penalized 1% of Medicare payments increasing to 3% over 3 years.
Meaningful Use
78
Medical service or procedure that is performed on for treatment of an illness or injury that is not considered investigational, cosmetic, or experimental.
Medical Necessity
79
A unique number assigned by the provider or health care facility to identify the patient medical record.
Medical Record Number
80
Medicare Secondary Payer.
MSP
81
Tax exempt account for paying medical expenses administered by a third party to reimburse a patient for eligible health care expenses. Typically provided by employer where the employee contributes regularly to the account before taxes and submits claims or receipts for reimbursement. Sometimes also referred to in medical billing terminology as a Medical Spending Account.
Medical Savings Account
82
The conversion of voice recorded or hand written medical information dictated by health care professionals (such as physicians) into text format records. These records can be either electronic or paper.
Medical Transcription
83
Insurance provided by federal government for people over 65 or people under 65 with certain restrictions.
Medicare
84
Medicare Hospital coverage
Medicare Part A
85
Medicare Physicians visits and outpatient procedures
Medicare Part B
86
Medicare Medicare insurance for prescription drug costs for anyone enrolled in Medicare Part A or B.
Medicare Part D
87
Medical billing terminology for inpatient hospital coverage from day 61 to day 90 of a continuous hospitalization. The patient is responsible for paying for part of the costs during those days. After the 90th day, the patient enters “Lifetime Reserve Days.”
Medicare Coinsurance Days
88
The gap or difference between the initial limits of insurance and the catastrophic Medicare Part D coverage limits for prescription drugs.
Medicare Donut Hole
89
Insurance coverage for low income patients. Funded by Federal and state government and administered by states.
Medicaid
90
Medicare supplemental health insurance for Medicare beneficiaries which may include payment of Medicare deductibles, co-insurance and balance bills, or other services not covered by Medicare.
Medigap
91
Modifier to a CPT treatment code that provide additional information to insurance payers for procedures or services that have been altered or “modified” in some way. Modifiers are important to explain additional procedures and obtain reimbursement for them.
Modifier
92
Non-Covered Charge. A procedure not covered by the patients health insurance plan.
N/C
93
Not Elsewhere Classifiable. Medical billing terminology used in ICD when information needed to code the term in a more specific category is not available.
NEC
94
Health care provider who is contracted with an insurance provider to provide care at a negotiated cost.
Network Provider
95
When a healthcare provider chooses not to accept Medicare-approved payment amounts as payment in full.
Nonparticipation
96
Not Otherwise Specified. Used in ICD for unspecified diagnosis.
NOS
97
National Provider Identifier. A unique 10 digit identification number required by HIPAA and assigned through the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES).
NPI Number
98
Office of Inspector General – Part of department of Health and Human Services. Establish compliance requirements to combat healthcare fraud and abuse. Has guidelines for billing services and individual and small group physician practices.
OIG
99
A provider that does not have a contract with the insurance carrier. Patients usually responsible for a greater portion of the charges or may have to pay all the charges for using an out-of network provider.
Out-of Network (or Non-Participating)
100
The maximum amount the patient has to pay under their insurance policy. Anything above this limit is the insurers obligation. These Out-of-pocket maximums can apply to all coverage or to a specific benefit category such as prescriptions.
Out-Of-Pocket Maximum
101
Typically treatment in a physicians office, clinic, or day surgery facility lasting less than one day.
Outpatient
102
The amount a patient is responsible for paying that is not covered by the insurance plan.
Patient Responsibility
103
Primary Care Physician – Usually the physician who provides initial care and coordinates additional care if necessary.
PCP
104
Point-of-Service plan. Medical billing terminology for a flexible type of HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plan where patients have the freedom to use (or self-refer to) non-HMO network providers. When a non-HMO specialist is seen without referral from the Primary Care Physician (self-referral), they have to pay a higher deductible and a percentage of the coinsurance.
POS
105
Place of Service. Medical billing terminology used on medical insurance claims – such as the CMS 1500 block 24B. A two digit code which defines where the procedure was performed. For example 11 is for the doctors office, 12 is for home, 21 is for inpatient hospital, etc.
POS (Used on Claims)
106
Preferred Provider Organization. Commercial insurance plan where the patient can use any doctor or hospital within the network. Similar to an HMO.
PPO
107
software used for the daily operations of a providers office. Typically used for appointment scheduling and billing.
Practice Management Software
108
Requirement of insurance plan for primary care doctor to notify the patient insurance carrier of certain medical procedures (such as outpatient surgery) for those procedures to be considered a covered expense.
Preauthorization
109
Sometimes required by the patients insurance company to determine medical necessity for the services proposed or rendered. This doesn’t guarantee the benefits will be paid.
Pre-Certification
110
Maximum payment insurance will pay towards surgery, consultation, or other medical care – determined before treatment.
Predetermination
111
A medical condition that has been diagnosed or treated within a certain specified period of time just before the patients effective date of coverage. A Pre-existing condition may not be covered for a determined amount of time as defined in the insurance terms of coverage (typically 6 to 12 months).
Pre-existing Condition (PEC)
112
When insurance coverage is denied for the insured when a pre-existing medical condition existed when the health plan coverage became effective.
Pre-existing Condition Exclusion
113
The amount the insured or their employer pays (usually monthly) to the health insurance company for coverage.
Premium
114
The HIPAA privacy standard establishes requirements for disclosing what the HIPAA privacy law calls Protected Health Information (PHI). PHI is any information on a patient about the status of their health, treatment, or payments.
Privacy Rule
115
An individuals identifying information such as name, address, birth date, Social Security Number, telephone numbers, insurance ID numbers, or information pertaining to healthcare diagnosis or treatment.
Protected Health Information (PHI)
116
Physician or medical care facility (hospital) who provides health care services.
Provider
117
Provider Transaction Access Number. Also known as the legacy Medicare number.
PTAN
118
When one provider (usually a family doctor) refers a patient to another provider (typically a specialist).
Referral
119
A document supplied by the insurance payer with information on claims submitted for payment. Contains explanations for rejected or denied claims. Also referred to as an EOB (Explanation of Benefits).
Remittance Advice (R/A)
120
The person responsible for paying a patients medical bill. Also referred to as the guarantor.
Responsible Party
121
Medical billing terminology for a 3-digit number used on hospital bills to tell the insurer where the patient was when they received treatment, or what type of item a patient received.
Revenue Code
122
Relative Value Amount. This is the average amount Medicare will pay a provider or hospital for a procedure (CPT-4). This amount varies depending on geographic location.
RVU
123
Process of checking an insurance claim for errors in the health insurance claim software prior to submitting to the payer.
Scrubbing
124
When a patient sees a specialist without a primary physician referral.
Self-Referral
125
Payment made at the time of service by the patient.
Self Pay
126
claim for insurance coverage paid after the primary insurance makes payment. Secondary insurance is typically used to cover gaps in insurance coverage.
Secondary Insurance Claim
127
When a second CPT procedure is performed during the same physician visit as the primary procedure.
Secondary Procedure
128
Provides guidance for developing and implementing policies and procedures to guard and mitigate compromises to security. The HIPAA security standard is kind of a sub-set or compliment to the HIPAA privacy standard. Where the HIPAA policy privacy requirements apply to all patient Protected Health Information (PHI), HIPAA policy security laws apply more specifically to electronic PHI.
Security Standard
129
A nursing home or facility for convalescence. Provides a high level of specialized care for long-term or acutely ill patients. A Skilled Nursing Facility is an alternative to an extended hospital stay or home nursing care.
Skilled Nursing Facility
130
Signature on File.
SOF
131
Physician who specializes in a specific area of medicine, such as urology, cardiology, orthopedics, oncology, etc. Some healthcare plans require beneficiaries to obtain a referral from their primary care doctor before making an appointment to see a Specialist.
Specialist
132
Medical billing term to describe the employee for group policies. For individual policies the subscriber describes the policyholder.
Subscriber
133
One of the medical billing terms for the form the provider uses to document the treatment and diagnosis for a patient visit. Typically includes several commonly used ICD-9 diagnosis and CPT procedural codes. One of the most frequently used medical billing terms.
Superbill
134
Additional insurance policy that covers claims fro deductibles and coinsurance. Frequently used to cover these expenses not covered by Medicare.
Supplemental Insurance
135
Treatment Authorization Request. An authorization number given by insurance companies prior to treatment in order to receive payment for services rendered.
TAR
136
Specialty standard codes used to indicate a providers specialty sometimes required to process a claim.
Taxonomy Code
137
Date the insurance contract expired or the date a subscriber or dependent ceases to be eligible.
Term Date
138
Claim for insurance coverage paid in addition to primary and secondary insurance. Tertiary insurance covers gaps in coverage the primary and secondary insurance may not cover.
Tertiary Insurance Claim
139
An independent corporate entity or person (third party) who administers group benefits, claims and administration for a self-insured company or group.
Third Party Administrator (TPA)
140
Tax Identification Number. Also known as Employer Identification Number (EIN).
TIN
141
Triple Option Plan. An insurance plan which offers the enrolled a choice of a more traditional plan, an HMO, or a PPO. This is also commonly referred to as a cafeteria plan.
TOP
142
Type of Service. Description of the category of service performed.
TOS
143
This is federal health insurance for active duty military, National Guard and Reserve, retirees, their families, and survivors. Formerly know as CHAMPUS.
TRICARE
144
Claim form for hospitals, clinics, or any provider billing for facility fees similar to CMS 1500. Replaces the UB92 form.
UB04
145
Submitting several CPT treatment codes when only one code is necessary.
Unbundling
146
Medical claim submitted after the time frame allowed by the insurance payer. Claims submitted after this date are denied.
Untimely Submission
147
An illegal practice of assigning an ICD-9 diagnosis code that does not agree with the patient records for the purpose of increasing the reimbursement from the insurance payor.
Upcoding
148
Unique Physician Identification Number. 6 digit physician identification number created by CMS. Discontinued in 2007 and replaced by NPI number.
UPIN
149
The allowable coverage limits (fee schedule) determined by the patients insurance company to limit the maximum amount they will pay for a given service or item as defined in the contract with the patient.
Usual Customary & Reasonable(UCR)
150
The limits that Medicare sets on how many times certain services can be provided within a year. The patients claim can be denied if the services exceed this limit.
Utilization Limit
151
Review or audit conducted to reduce unnecessary inpatient or outpatient medical services or procedures.
Utilization Review (UR)
152
ICD-9-CM coding classification to identify health care for reasons other than injury or illness.
V-Codes
153
Insurance claim that results from a work related injury or illness.
Workers Comp
154
Typically reference to the difference between what the physician charges and what the insurance plan contractually allows and the patient is not responsible for. May also be referred to as “not covered” in some glossary of billing terms.
Write-off
