Medical Coding and Auditing for Urgent Care

The number of Urgent Care Centers across in the United States continues to grow. Their ability to deliver fast and inexpensive medical treatments outside of the Emergency Room is what attracts patients.  

Medical coding and auditing for urgent care centers have unique aspects compared to other healthcare settings. Urgent care centers offer a diverse range of services, requiring coding and auditing to accurately capture the complexity and resources involved in each encounter, which may include evaluation and management visits, minor procedures, diagnostic tests, and vaccinations. Time-based coding is often utilized to reflect the prompt nature of urgent care visits, where the level of service is determined based on the duration of the encounter.  

Accurate documentation and coding of the acuity and severity of patient conditions are crucial.  

Given the quick turnaround time and variety of insurance plans, medical coders and auditors must efficiently and compliantly code and bill for services, following specific guidelines tailored to the facility. While these unique aspects exist, the core principles of accuracy, compliance, and documentation review remain essential in urgent care coding and auditing processes. 

HIA's credentialed coders are up to date on all coding guidelines for urgent care facilities. Our consulting service identifies specific areas of financial and compliance risk, provides pertinent information and educates clients on proper documentation, billing and coding practices.