A new medical billing system goes into effect in two years that is associated with the implementation of ObamaCare. Currently, physicians and their medical office billing coders deal with a system that has approximately 18000 different codes. These codes are used to describe to Medicare and insurance companies some of the details of why you visited the physician.

For example, did you visit for asthma, an acute urinary infection, pleurisy, or diabetes? Someone who pays the bill wants to know. And they don’t want to just know that I saw you on Friday for a routine office visit.  They want to know some details. I just want to be paid after I provide you the care you need. So I code 250.00 for your diabetes or a 250.01 if your diabetes is not under control either due to your lack of care or mine.

The new code list has been expanded to–believe it or not, 140,000 different codes. That’s right. The new codes are designed to provide the powers that be detailed notes on exactly what you were seen for as well as how and where everything happened. Were you injured in a chicken coop or in an opera house? They want to know.  

There are actually nine different codes for where  you were injured around your mobile home. Was it in the bathroom, bedroom, hallway, or kitchen? They want to know.  Apparently it matters to them. What it means to me is a lot more work and another necessary employee to take care of the expanded billing.  

In the final analysis, a physician will see less patients, refuse to care for those that are covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and those insurance companies that choose to enforce this coding mess the most. They will also need to fight for every dollar they charge.

Big Brother, on the other hand, will now know that you were in the bedroom when you hurt your knee. And they will be wanting to know what you were doing when it happened. Good luck with that.