Coding & Reimbursement
Orthopaedic surgeons, like other physicians, are justifiably concerned about being paid correctly for the work they perform both in the office and the hospital. If the coding for a service is incorrect at the outset, payment may be delayed, reduced, or not forthcoming at all. You, the physician, must take time to learn how to code; you should not solely rely on delegating the task to others. The reason for this is simple; it is you who are in the operating room and you, who under the law, are the responsible party and therefore liable for errors. You also stand to increase revenues by learning to code correctly because as often as not, coding errors are "undercode" versus "overcode." Your staff will never have the same stake in correct coding that you do.
The AAOS is your source for coding and reimbursement information. You can direct specific CPT and/or ICD-9 coding questions to AAOS staff in the"Submit a Coding Question" section of the website (Member Log In Required). In addition, you can view the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) which are organized by anatomical site. AAOS staff works directly with the Academy’s Coding Coverage and Reimbursement Committee who review member’s request for coding guidance.
You can also browse though the Coding Articles Archive relating to coding that have been extracted from issues of AAOS Now. These articles have been developed by AAOS staff, members of the Coding Coverage & Reimbursement Committee, as well as outside coding experts. Useful links to additional resources such as upcoming coding courses, various payment policies and the history of the AAOS Coding Coverage & Reimbursement Committee can be found on Coding & Reimbursement web page.
- ICD-10 Resources
- FAQ
- Submit a Coding Question
- Coding Courses
- Coding Articles Archive
- Resources
- AAOS Coding Coverage & Reimbursement Committee
- Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)
- AMA Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC)
- New Code Requests
- Overview of the Medicare Physician Payment System
- Overview of Miscellaneous Coding and Payment Policy Activities
