The role of radiology coders and fee coordinators

The coding process for radiology procedures is more than just looking at a report, writing in the codes and sending it on. In the radiology department, coders/fee coordinators play a key role in troubleshooting, since they are able to see the entire process from patient visit to billing. Vital to the billing operation is having competent and skilled coders who understand radiology from order to revenue. Responsibility for proper coding should rest with the radiology department, even when fee coordinators are paid from different sources. If other people are writing codes that can influence its bottom line, the department needs to know that coding is being done correctly. Thousands of dollars can be lost when the coding and billing process breaks down and incorrect coding is overlooked. A quality control program is vital so that mistakes are found and corrected prior to codes being entered. Insisting on accuracy also means finding and following up on errors through a troubleshooting system to prevent legal action. Codes must be able to look at reports, ask questions about inconsistencies and possible errors and compare the ordered procedure to what was actually done. Issues that affect proper coding are pointed out so that today's coders can be more watchful. Although it is labor intensive, it is important for coders to match reports with dictation from technologies and radiologists to ensure accuracy.