Admit it, if you haven't said it yourself, you've heard other dentists and clinical team members say it dozens of times. Maybe all dentists secretly wish to avoid the procedure codes. My dear friends, this is a myth that must be busted. Let's start today!
Appropriate coding starts with the clinical team. Their eyes witnessed the intraoral photos, x-rays and hands-on exam. Let's enter the age of enlightenment where we chart and code for what we do.
Accurate coding is not only a team sport, but the beginning step in streamlining the reimbursement process. Most claims are delayed or denied due to inaccurate or missing information.
Today's Reimbursement tip:
"A picture is worth 1000 words," yet how many times a day do we take pre- op and post-op intraoral photos? Make this part of your protocol in treating each and every patient and include it as a standard operating procedure in your clinical documentation. This can be a great learning tool for the patient as well. Maybe they don't "feel" like you really did anything to their tooth. Show them photos along the way as well as after their procedure. They'll feel like the most cared about and respected patients in town.
