Ethical Considerations in Medical Coding

Medical coders are involved in tracking medical services given to patients, and use a system of codes in doing their job. As with other health care-related professions, medical coding can be ethically complex. Ethical issues can spark legal problems.

Code of Ethics

• The American Health Information Association and the American Academy of Professional Coders have a code of ethics for the medical coding profession. Medical coding procedures have become electronic in many facilities, but the employee still must treat records in the same manner as before.

Rules and Policies

• Rules and policies are not only put in place by government agencies, but are also specific to a facility. This means that the coder must not only adhere to laws but also to the policy of the employer, which can lead to conflicting obligations, yet another ethical dilemma. Pressure to obtain the maximum reimbursement for services may result in falsifying or manipulating documentation --- an ethics no-no.

Guidelines

• Guidelines for ethical considerations in medical billing also address dilemmas associated with privacy and confidentiality. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is an important factor in ethical standards that apply to coding. One particular ethical dilemma that violates HIPAA regulation includes the sharing of confidential patient information with those who do not need this information, or are not authorized to have it.