What is the cardinal rule of medical coding?

The cardinal rule of medical coding is to be as specific as possible.

This means that coders should use the most specific code that accurately describes the patient's condition or procedure. For example, instead of coding a patient's diagnosis as "headache," the coder should use a more specific code such as "migraine headache" or "tension headache."

By being as specific as possible, coders can help ensure that patients receive the correct reimbursement for their medical care. They can also help to improve the quality of medical data, which can be used for research and to track patient outcomes.