How to Answer: What do you use as your guidance to accurately code?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Medical Coder job interview.
24. What do you use as your guidance to accurately code?
How to Answer
ICD-9-CM is old news. Make sure your guidance is the ICD-10-CM. Ready to impress the interviewer? Let the interviewer know that you regularly use the guidance for determining diagnosis codes, describe inpatient medical procedures as well as codes that describe the causes of injuries. This will show the interviewer that it's not just a paperweight on your desk but a tool that you use everyday.
Written by Heather Douglass
Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback
Anonymous Answer
"Locate the most specific, clear dx by reviewing the EMR. Code to the highest level of specificity as possible. I use the AMA current procedure for coding books as well as the patient's insurance carrier policy."
Chad's Feedback
This is a good start! You have identified reputable resources to refer to as guidance to code procedures. However, consider also including the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) in your response, as it is the industry standard for diagnosis codes. I have included an example below of how this response might be restated.
"I regularly use the ICD-10-CM, AMA current procedure coding books, and the patient's insurance carrier policy as guidance to accurately code. Once I have located the most specific, clear dx by reviewing the patient's EMR, I then code to the highest level of specificity as possible."