Types of Medical Coding
Types of Medical Coding: A Complete Guide If you are planning a career in medical coding , one of the first things you should know is that there are different types of coding systems used in healthcare. Each type plays a key role in patient care, billing, and insurance claims. Understanding them is the first step to becoming a skilled medical coder. In this blog, we’ll break down the main types of medical coding in a simple and clear way. 1. ICD (International Classification of Diseases) The ICD codes are used worldwide to record diseases, symptoms, and causes of death. Purpose: Identifies patient conditions and diagnoses. Example: ICD-10-CM (used in the U.S.) is the most common version. Why it matters: Doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies rely on ICD codes for accurate patient records and billing. 2. CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) CPT codes describe the medical, surgical, and diagnostic services provided to patients. Purpose: Tells insur...