Get good news when doing internal audits

Besides protecting your practice from potentially disasterous outside audits, performing internal audits regularly can reveal missed revenue. In fact, undercoding is as common as overcoding. That’s because many physicians nervously enter a code reflecting a lower level of service than they actually provided.

Not only does such unwarranted fear cost you money, but a consistent pattern of undercoding attracts auditors’ attention just as much as the more infamous upcoding.

The primary determining factor in coding is the complexity. As a rule of thumb, ask yourself whether the patient would likely get well without medical intervention. Educating yourself and your staff so you code at the appropriate highest level can result in increased revenue.

About the Author

Reed Tinsley CPA

This article is written by Reed Tinsley, a Houston, TX-based CPA with over 30 years of experience advising physicians and medical practices across Texas and the United States. Reed holds certifications as a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), Certified Healthcare Business Consultant (CHBC), and Certified Financial Planner (CFP), specializing exclusively in the healthcare sector. He is a published author, nationally recognized speaker, and trusted advisor to physicians on accounting & tax, practice management, and financial planning. Schedule a Free Consultation.