Here are some common acronyms used by billers and coders in the field:
HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. It is often misspelled as HIPPA and often called the privacy rule. It’s the ability to take your insurance and current benefits level with you if you loose your job.
NPP – Notice of Privacy Practice. A document provided by facilities to the patients outlining the manner in which the practice will protect and use the patients private information. This was mandated by HIPAA Title II Administrative Simplification.
PHI – Protected Health Information. A patients identifiable information such as their demographics, social security number, date of birth, etc.
EOB – Explanation Of Benefits. A document that looks like a bill but is not one. It merely outlines and gives details of services billed for the patient by a provider.
MCR – Medicare. The largest payer in healthcare in the United States.
MCD – Medicaid. A state mandated program and social service for the medically and financially needy.
DOS – Date Of Service. Commonly seen on most documents related to the patient’s care.
POS – Point Of Service. Helps the insurance carrier determine the location of services rendered to a patient, such as hospital or physician’s office.
SOF – Signature On File. Self explanatory, on certain forms (is CMS-1500) the patients signature is required in order to process the claim. Because the claims are submitted electronically this acronym is indicative of having the patients signature on file authorizing claims processing.
CPC – Certified Professional Coder. A designation earned by an individual after having completed and appropriate course of instruction with emphasis in billing and coding and have taken the exam offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
