Frequently Asked Questions

In this section:

• How often do you update content on CodingIntel?
• How do I know the content is up-to-date?
• How do I know the content is accurate?
• Is the content in-depth?
• What sources do you use?
• Do your resources have citations?
• What are the qualifications of your authors?
• How long have you been in business?
• What is the difference between CMS and my MAC?
• When do I need to look to payer guidelines?

Content Updates & Currency

How often do you update content on CodingIntel?

We update our content annually during the critical November through February coding update cycle, synchronized with all major official coding system changes:

• ICD-10-CM updates (effective October 1st each year) - We review all Official ICD-10-CM Coding Guidelines published by the CDC/NCHS and AHA Coding Clinic guidance
• CPT code changes (effective January 1st each year) - We schedule a CPT coding webinar update every year.
• Medicare policy changes (released in November via the Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, effective January 1st each year) - We review Federal Register notices and Medicare Claims Processing Manual updates

Continuous Updates Throughout the Year: After the initial update cycle, we continuously enhance our resources based on authoritative guidance released throughout the year, including:

• AMA CPT Assistant monthly publications - providing official clarifications on CPT code usage
• CPT Changes: An Insider's View - explaining the rationale behind code revisions
• Medicare Claims Processing Manual updates (CMS Pub. 100-04)
• Medicare Benefit Policy Manual updates (CMS Pub. 100-02)
• MedLearn Matters articles - translating CMS policy changes into actionable guidance
• CMS transmittals - announcing interim policy updates

Rapid Response to Urgent Changes: When significant coding or policy changes occur outside the normal update cycle (such as COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities, Public Health Emergency waivers, or mid-year regulatory changes), we update our guidance within days of official CMS or AMA announcements. Our members rely on us to keep them informed when time-sensitive changes affect their coding practices.

How do I know the content is up-to-date?

Every resource is clearly dated:

• All coding guides display "Last Updated: [Date]" on the table of contents
• Reference sheets include the version date and applicable coding year
• Articles show the most recent update date at the end
• Webinar recordings indicate the date presented on the recording and the handouts

Member Testimonials: Our members frequently tell us they trust CodingIntel because our date transparency saves them hours of research time verifying whether guidance is still current. They appreciate not having to cross-reference multiple sources to determine if coding rules have changed since a resource was published.

Currency Verification Process: Before each annual update cycle and quarterly throughout the year, our certified coding team reviews all published resources against:

• Current CPT codebook (Professional Edition)
• Current ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting
• Most recent Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
• Latest NCCI Policy Manual chapters
• Recent CPT Assistant

If guidance has changed, we either update the existing resource or clearly mark it as archived with an explanation of what superseded it.

Content Accuracy & Credibility

How do I know the content is accurate?

Expert Author Credentials: CodingIntel content is created and reviewed exclusively by certified professional coders with extensive real-world experience. Our writing team holds multiple advanced coding certifications including CPC, CPMA, CCS, CCS-P, RHIA, and specialty credentials. Each author has a minimum of 10 years of hands-on coding experience in physician practice settings.

Multi-Layer Review Process:

1. Initial Research - Authors consult primary sources (CPT codebook, Federal Register, CMS manuals)
2. Content Development - Guidance is written with direct citations to official sources
3. Peer Review - A second certified coder reviews for accuracy and completeness
4. Founder Review - Betsy Nicoletti, MS, CPC, with 25+ years of coding consulting experience, performs final review on complex topics
5. Member Feedback Loop - We actively incorporate questions and scenarios from our members to refine guidance

Verification Against Official Sources: Every coding rule, Medicare policy, or billing guideline we publish is verified against authoritative sources. We never rely on secondary interpretations or industry rumors. If official guidance is ambiguous or conflicting, we explicitly note this and explain the different interpretations.

Real-World Testing: Our guidance is battle-tested. CodingIntel authors actively consult with medical practices, meaning our resources reflect not just theoretical coding rules but practical application that survives payer audits and claim edits.

When We Don't Know: If a coding scenario lacks clear official guidance, we say so. We'll explain the different reasonable approaches, cite the relevant authorities that come closest to addressing the situation, and recommend that practices document their decision-making process and consider consulting their compliance officer for high-risk scenarios.

Is the content in-depth?

Long-Form Coding Guides: Yes. Our coding guides are comprehensive, long-form educational resources that provide:

• Complete context - Why the code or policy exists, not just what it is
• Step-by-step instructions - How to determine the correct code from documentation review through claim submission
• Real-world clinical scenarios - Examples showing how rules apply to actual patient encounters
• Common pitfalls - Mistakes to avoid, based on our audit experience
• Documentation requirements - What must be present in the medical record to support code selection
• Payer-specific variations - How Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers may differ in their requirements
• Modifier usage - When and how to append modifiers correctly
• Medical necessity considerations - LCD/NCD requirements and coverage criteria

Our coding guides are 10-40 pages in PDF format, designed to serve as comprehensive reference materials that answer related questions you didn't even know you had.

Quick-Reference Sheets: We also create distilled reference sheets that condense our in-depth research into manageable, desk-side tools. These one-to-two-page resources provide:

• Decision trees for code selection
• Quick checklists for documentation requirements
• Side-by-side comparisons of similar codes
• Modifier selection flowcharts
• Medical necessity quick-checks

Our reference sheets save time for experienced coders who need a quick reminder, while our full coding guides provide the depth needed for learning new topics, training staff, or handling complex scenarios.

What sources do you use?

Primary Authoritative Sources - We Go to the Source:

At CodingIntel, we build every resource on a foundation of official coding authorities. We don't rely on summaries or secondary interpretations. Our citations include:

CPT Coding:

• CPT® Professional Edition (American Medical Association) - The official CPT codebook
• CPT Assistant (AMA) - Monthly newsletter providing official CPT coding guidance
• CPT Changes: An Insider's View (AMA) - Annual publication explaining rationale for code changes
• AMA CPT coding guidelines and instructional notes

ICD-10-CM Coding:

• ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (CDC/NCHS)
• ICD-10-CM codebook conventions and instructional notes

Medicare Policy:

• Federal Register - Proposed and Final Rules (especially the Physician Fee Schedule)
• Medicare Claims Processing Manual (CMS Pub. 100-04)
• Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (CMS Pub. 100-02)
• Medicare National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) Policy Manual
• CMS transmittals - Official policy updates
• MedLearn Matters articles - CMS educational articles for providers
• CMS.gov website - MLN publications, FAQs, and provider guidance
• Medicare Coverage Database - National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) and Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs)
• MAC (Medicare Administrative Contractor) websites - Regional guidance and FAQs

Additional Authoritative Sources:

• OIG (Office of Inspector General) compliance guidance and audit reports
• State Medicaid policy manuals (when applicable)
• Specialty society coding guidance (when it aligns with official CPT/CMS rules)

Do your resources have citations?

Yes – Our Content is Supported:

We believe transparent citations are essential to authoritative coding guidance. Every CodingIntel resource includes:

Footnotes and References:

• Direct citations to specific CPT code descriptors and guidelines
• Federal Register citations with page numbers for CMS policy statements
• CMS manual citations with chapter, section, and subsection references
• CPT Assistant citations with month, year, and page number
• Links to relevant CMS web pages and MLN articles
• References to specific NCCI Policy Manual chapters

Why Citations Matter:

• Audit Defense - If your coding is questioned, you can point to the official source supporting your decision
• Verification - You can independently verify our guidance against the original source
• Deeper Learning - Citations allow you to read the full context if you want more detail
• Trust - You know we're not making assumptions or relying on outdated information

Example Citation Format: Our resources cite sources like this:

• "Per CPT Assistant (May 2024, page 7), modifier 25 is appropriate when..."
• "According to the CY 2025 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (89 FR 83028), CMS clarified that..."
• "Medicare Claims Processing Manual, Chapter 12, Section 30.6.1.B states..."
• Footnotes; for CPT, the date of the reference. For CMS, when the resource was accessed.

Author Expertise & Credibility

What are the qualifications of your authors?

Extensive Professional Certifications:

CodingIntel authors and webinar presenters hold advanced credentials from recognized professional organizations, demonstrating deep expertise in medical coding, compliance, and healthcare reimbursement:

Coding Certifications:

• CPC (Certified Professional Coder) - AAPC
• CPC-I (Certified Professional Coder – Instructor) - AAPC
• CPMA (Certified Professional Medical Auditor) - AAPC
• COC (Certified Outpatient Coder) - AAPC
• CRC (Certified Risk Adjustment Coder) - AAPC
• CEMC (Certified Evaluation and Management Coder) - AAPC
• CCS (Certified Coding Specialist) - AHIMA
• CCS-P (Certified Coding Specialist – Physician-based) - AHIMA
• RHIA (Registered Health Information Administrator) - AHIMA

Specialty and Advanced Certifications:

• ACS-EM (Apprentice Coding Specialist – Evaluation & Management) - AAPC
• ACS-MS (Apprentice Coding Specialist – Musculoskeletal) - AAPC
• CCDS (Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist) - ACDIS
• CCDS-O (Certified Clinical Documentation Specialist – Outpatient) - ACDIS
• CDIP (Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner) - AHIMA
• CDEI (Clinical Documentation Excellence Instructor) - ACDIS
• CIC (Certified Inpatient Coder) - AAPC

Compliance and Management Credentials:

• CHC (Certified in Healthcare Compliance) - HCCA
• HCQM-PHYADV (Healthcare Quality Management – Physician Advisor) - NAMSS
• FACMPE (Fellow of the American College of Medical Practice Executives) - MGMA

Professional Degrees:

• MD (Doctor of Medicine) - Physician advisors who understand clinical documentation
• JD (Juris Doctor) - Legal experts in healthcare compliance and fraud/abuse law
• MS (Master of Science) - Advanced degrees in health information management

Real-World Experience: Beyond credentials, our authors bring decades of hands-on experience:

• Former practice managers who implemented coding compliance programs
• Consultants who have conducted thousands of coding audits
• Educators who have trained entire coding departments
• Specialists who work daily with complex coding scenarios in their consulting practices

Meet Our Team: You can review detailed bios of our expert presenters and authors here: https://codingintel.com/guest-presenters/

Each bio includes specific credentials, areas of expertise, professional background, and current practice focus.

Company History & Credibility

How long have you been in business?

Deep Roots in Medical Coding Consulting:

CodingIntel is built on a foundation of 25+ years of coding expertise and education:

1998 - Founder Betsy Nicoletti, MS, CPC, established her medical coding and practice management consulting business, working directly with physician practices across the United States. Over two decades, Betsy developed a reputation for clear, practical guidance on complex coding issues.

Early 2000s-2010s - Betsy and partner Nancy Collins co-created Codapedia.com, one of the early online coding reference platforms. This experience taught them what coders truly need: authoritative guidance with clear citations, practical examples, and quick access to answers.

2017 - CodingIntel officially launched as a membership-based platform, combining Betsy's consulting expertise with a vision for comprehensive, continuously updated coding education accessible to practices of all sizes.

2020-Present - During the COVID-19 pandemic, CodingIntel saw substantial membership growth as practices urgently needed guidance on rapidly changing telehealth policies, PHE flexibilities, and new E/M coding rules. Our ability to quickly publish accurate, cited guidance during a time of unprecedented change demonstrated the value of our model.

Steady Growth Through Trust: Our membership has grown consistently year-over-year through word-of-mouth recommendations and member retention. Coders and compliance officers trust CodingIntel because:

• We've been here through multiple major coding changes (E/M revisions, telehealth evolution, documentation guidelines)
• Our guidance has protected practices during audits
• We respond quickly to member questions and emerging issues
• Our resources are practical and immediately applicable

Looking Forward: As coding continues to evolve with AI documentation tools, value-based payment models, and regulatory changes, CodingIntel remains committed to providing the authoritative, cited guidance that coding professionals depend on.

Understanding the Coding Authority Landscape

What is the difference between CMS and my MAC?

CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) is the federal agency that:

• Develops national Medicare policies
• Creates and maintains HCPCS Level II codes
• Publishes the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and payment rules
• Issues regulations through the Federal Register
• Maintains the Medicare manuals (Claims Processing, Benefit Policy, etc.)
• Develops National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) for medical necessity
• Sets NCCI editing rules

Think of CMS as the headquarters setting the overall rules.

MACs (Medicare Administrative Contractors) are private insurance companies contracted by CMS to:

• Process Medicare claims in their designated geographic jurisdictions
• Pay or deny claims based on CMS policy
• Conduct prepayment and postpayment audits
• Develop Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) for medical necessity in their region
• Provide education and outreach to providers in their jurisdiction
• Interpret CMS guidance and answer provider questions

Think of your MAC as the regional office implementing the rules.

Why This Matters for Coding:

MACs have discretion in how they interpret CMS guidance. This means:

• LCD Variations - One MAC may cover a service while another MAC requires additional documentation or doesn't cover it at all
• Claims Processing Differences - MACs may have different edits or prepayment review programs
• Education and FAQs - Some MACs provide extensive guidance documents and FAQs on complex topics, while others primarily reproduce CMS manual language
• Audit Focus - Each MAC has different audit priorities based on their region's fraud patterns

Practical Guidance:

• Always check your specific MAC's website for LCDs and coverage articles
• If your MAC hasn't addressed a specific coding question, look to CMS policy (manuals, Federal Register, MLN)
• When CMS issues new guidance, your MAC may take weeks or months to update their website
• If you practice in multiple states, you may work with different MACs with different interpretations

CodingIntel's Approach: We base our guidance on CMS national policy while noting when MACs commonly vary in their interpretations. When significant LCD variations exist, we highlight these regional differences so you know to verify your local MAC's requirements.

When do I need to look to payer guidelines?

Beyond Medicare - Commercial Payer Policies:

While CPT codes are maintained by the AMA and Medicare policies are set by CMS, commercial insurance payers (Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, etc.) create their own policies that may differ significantly from both CPT guidelines and Medicare rules.

Commercial Payers May:

Interpret CPT Rules Differently:

• Require start and stop times for services even when CPT and CMS don't mandate this
• Define "separate encounter" or "different session" differently for modifier 25
• Bundle services that CMS pays separately (or vice versa)
• Not recognize certain CPT codes or Category III codes
• Apply different global surgery periods than Medicare

Develop Unique Medical Necessity Criteria:

• Create proprietary coverage policies unrelated to CMS LCDs/NCDs
• Require different documentation elements to support medical necessity
• Limit frequency of services (e.g., allowing fewer physical therapy visits than Medicare)
• Require prior authorization for procedures Medicare covers without precertification

Apply Unique Reimbursement Rules:

• Downcode high-level E/M services (99215, 99205) to lower levels without reviewing documentation
• Auto-deny certain code combinations as "bundled" even when clinically appropriate and separately documented
• Apply percentage reductions to certain services or modifiers
• Use proprietary fee schedules unrelated to Medicare rates

Require Different Billing Practices:

• Demand specific modifiers not required by Medicare
• Prohibit modifiers that Medicare requires
• Have different place-of-service requirements
• Require different claim forms or electronic submission formats

When You MUST Check Payer Guidelines:

1. Before billing high-dollar procedures - Verify coverage and prior authorization requirements
2. When using new or Category III codes - Many payers don't recognize these immediately
3. For modifier usage - Modifier 25, 59, and XE/XP/XS/XU usage varies significantly
4. When documentation seems adequate but claims are denied - The payer may have stricter documentation requirements
5. For E/M level selection - Some payers have different medical decision-making criteria
6. Before performing services with LCD restrictions - Commercial policies may be more or less restrictive
7. When your MAC allows something - Don't assume commercial payers will follow Medicare

Where to Find Payer Policies:

Most major commercial payers publish their medical policies on their provider portals:

• Coverage determination guidelines
• Claims editing policies
• Modifier usage requirements
• Prior authorization lists
• Provider manuals with billing rules

CodingIntel's Approach:

Our primary focus is CPT coding rules and Medicare policy, as these form the foundation of professional fee coding. However, we note when commercial payers commonly deviate from Medicare policy on significant issues.

We recommend:

• Keep copies of payer-specific policies that affect your practice
• Document your rationale when coding according to CPT/Medicare rules that a commercial payer may dispute
• Consider credentialing and payer contract implications when payers consistently deny appropriately coded services
• Join your specialty society to advocate for fair coding policies with commercial payers

Bottom Line: CPT and Medicare provide the coding framework, but commercial payers operate their own businesses with their own rules. Always verify requirements for your top payers, especially for high-volume services or procedures with frequent denials.

Additional Questions?

If you have questions about our resources, coding topics, or membership, please contact us at support@codingintel.com We're here to support your coding accuracy and compliance.

Remember: CodingIntel provides educational guidance based on official coding authorities. For specific clinical scenarios or audit defense, consult with your compliance officer or healthcare attorney.

In this section:

• What’s included in membership?
• Membership options and pricing
• Do you offer custom memberships?
• Do you offer discounts or trial memberships?
• For individuals paying out of pocket

What is included in membership?

You get exclusive access to our library of essential coding resources for medical practices including webinars, articles, in-depth coding guides, quick reference sheets, annual CPT® and CMS updates, and more.

Here is a summary of what you will and won't find on CodingIntel.

*CodingIntel is NOT a forum for coding questions and does not provide answers to individual coding questions. See the coding questions section for additional information.

What are the membership options and pricing?

See our current membership options and pricing here.

Do you offer custom memberships?

If your group requires access for more than 30 users, please contact us for a quote.

Group and Premier members may puchase a sub account add on membership. This add on gives you an additional 5 users. Please contact us for details.

Do you offer discounts or trial memberships?

There are no discounts or trials available at this time. However, we do offer a 30-day money back guarantee. If you sign up for a monthly membership and decide CodingIntel is not for you, simply email us within 30 days of your purchase for a full refund.

Visit our membership page for complete details.

For individuals paying out of pocket:

We find that many employers are willing to cover the cost of a CodingIntel membership. Download Why Join CodingIntel , our information sheet about the benefits of CodingIntel. It can be presented to your employer to support your request to have them cover the cost of your membership.

In this section:

• Username and password help
• Changing your membership
• Adding or removing users on a corporate account
• Corporate account user limits
• Changing the group administrator on a corporate account

How do I set up my username and password?

You will be prompted to set up your username and password at the time of purchase.

To change your password, click on the "change password" link at the bottom of your account profile.

What if I forget my username or password? How do I reset it?

You can reset your password using reset link on the login page. Please note, we do not have access to passwords.

If you don't receive an email with the reset link, check your spam/junk filter. Still having trouble? Email us and we'll be happy to send you a temporary password.

How do I change my membership plan?

1. Go to your account profile
2. Click on "change plan"
3. Select your new plan from the dropdown list
4. Add/update your payment information and complete your transaction

Important notes

• *If you are a legacy member, you will not see the "change plan" option in your account. Please email support to change your plan
• If you are changing in the middle of a billing cycle, you will see a prorated payment amount for your first payment on the new plan. (This proration reflects a credit for the unused portion of your existing membership.)
• If you are changing a group membership (monthly to annual, or vice versa), Please contact us when your transaction is complete so we can migrate your sub account users to the new membership.

We have a corporate account. How do I add or remove individual users?

Group administrators may add or remove users (sub accounts) from the group account at any time. The total number of sub accounts used/available can be found on the sub accounts page. Please note, the total number of users indicated on the sub account page does not include the admin.

Admins may add users manually, using the steps below, OR, you may copy and distribute the unique signup URL for your group. The signup URL is located under sub accounts in your profile (see steps 1-3 below).

To remove users:

1. Go to the sub account list (see step 1 above)
2. In the user list, find the user you want to remove and click on the "remove" link for that user.

How many users can be on my account?

The total number of sub accounts used/available can be found on the sub accounts page.

How do I change the administrator on our group account?

Simply provide us with the name and email address of the new administrator. We'll take care of the rest.

In this section:

• Payment method options
• Invoices and receipts
• Renewal information
• Updating payment information

What payment methods can I use?

• Monthly memberships
  Credit or Debit card only
• Annual memberships
  Credit card or check

Note: Payments for memberships purchased with a credit card or ACH payment are automatically recurring until the customer cancels. See our cancellation policy for additional information.

You can update your card, or bank information at any time by clicking on the "update" link on the memberships tab in your ​account profile.

To pay by check, select that option during check out, and an invoice will be emailed to you. If you don't receive the invoice within two business days, please contact support. Don't forget to check your spam/junk folder!

Memberships paid by check DO NOT renew automaticallly. (See renewal section below).

Can I get an invoice or a receipt for my records?

Your purchase will automatically generate a receipt that is sent to your email. If you don’t see this email, try checking your spam or junk folder. If you would like a copy of an invoice after you sign up, you can download one under your account details.

How does my CodingIntel membership renew?

Memberships purchased with a credit or debit card are automatically recurring until you cancel. By purchasing a membership, you agree that CodingIntel will automatically continue your subscription and will charge the recurring fee for the membership you selected to your payment method on each renewal date until you cancel.

You may cancel at anytime by clicking the "cancel" link.

If you are an invoiced customer, you will receive renewal reminders beginning 4 to 6 weeks prior to your renewal date. To ensure receipt of reminders, please make sure your email address is up-to-date, and add "membership@codingintel.com" to your whitelist.

Please note, payment must be received by the renewal date to avoid interruption in access to member benefits.

Where can I find my membership renewal date?

You can check your renewal date at anytime in your account. The next billing date appears in the subscription column on the "Memberships" tab.

How do I update my payment information?

Payment information can be reviewed or updated in your account profile using the steps below. If you used Link to complete your transaction, you'll need to login to your Link account to review and update your payment details.

1. Login here
2. Payment details are shown in the 'Credit Card' column
3. To edit, click on the “update” link for your active membership* in the far right column
4. Enter your updated information
   
5. Click the submit button at the bottom of the page to save your updated information
6. *If your membership has expired, click on the "re-subscribe" link in the far right column

*If you receive an error message, please email support@codingintel.com and we'll be happy to assist you. 

In this section:

• Cancellation
• Refunds
• Reactivating a membership

How do I cancel my membership?

We hope you will find the resources on CodingIntel to be a great value. But, if you decide to cancel, you can do so at any time. Simply go to the memberships tab in your account and click the cancel link for your membership.

Important note: The cancel link triggers cancellation of your existing membership at the end of your current membership period.  Your membership access will continue until the end of the your current billing cycle. To request an immediate cancellation and refund, please contact support.

To ensure proper processing of your cancellation, please sign in to your account using one of the following internet browsers: Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

You will receive an email notification confirming your cancellation has been processed.

Can I get a refund?

Our refund policy is as follows:

• Individual Monthly Memberships - Refund of full purchase price if cancelled within 30 days of the original purchase. There are no refunds for monthly memberships cancelled after the 30 day risk free trial period. To request a refund, submit an inquiry using our contact form.

• All other memberships - Cancellation for all other memberships are subject to the following terms: Annual memberships will receive a prorated refund based on the number of months remaining until the renewal date. (Your renewal date can be found in your account profile). There are no refunds for Group MONTHLY memberships after the first 30 days of membership.
• *Webinars - There are no refunds for webinar purchases. If you are a member registered for a live event, and cancel your membership prior to the event, your webinar registration will be cancelled as well.

CodingIntel reserves the right to issue refunds in exception to this policy from time to time, at our discretion. Exercise of this right does not constitute a change in our stated policy, and does not obligate us to issue similar refunds except as required by the terms of use.

How do I reactivate my membership?

Simply click on the "Subscribe" link for the membership in your account profile.

Please note: updating your payment information for an expired membership WILL NOT reactivate the membership.

If you receive an error message, please visit our membership page to complete your transaction, or contact our support team for assistance.

In this section:

• General information about webinars
• How to sign up for webinars
• Where to find webinar materials
• CEU information
• Registration help

General information about webinars

Webinars are an exclusive member benefit.

All live webinars are recorded and made available on-demand within 24 hours of the live event. You can find a list of all webinars here.

If you're subscribed to Betsy's monthly newsletter, you will receive monthly notifications of webinars, along with a signup link (for members only.)

CodingIntel reserves the right to offer webinars to non-members for a fee.

How do I sign up for a webinar?

Members
Webinar access is free to active CodingIntel members.

To sign up for a live webinar, go to webinars, click on the title of the webinar you want to register for and then click on the "Register" button at the top of the page. Then, check your inbox for your confirmation email. If you don't see it there, or in your spam/junk folder, let us know and we'll be happy to resend it.

Note: The confirmation email will be sent to the email address on file for your CodingIntel membership.  You can review/edit your email address in your  account profile.

Non-members
Some on-demand webinars are availalbe for individual purchase.

If a webinar can be purchased on-demand, you will see a "purchase" link near the bottom of the post. Once your transaction is complete, go back to the webinar page to download the materials and watch the recording. (You may need to login, or refresh your browser). Purchased webinars may be accessed at anytime through the webinar tab in your account profile. Please contact support if you have any issues access the content.

Note: Webinar access is limited to one connection per registration/membership. Your office staff can listen in via your computer’s audio connection. Additional connections subject to additional fees. If purchasing on-demand, and CEUs are offered, they are only available to the purchaser.

Where do I find the handouts for my webinar?

Live webinars

• Handouts are posted on the webinar registration page the week of the webinar. Participants are encouraged to download them prior to the event.
• Handouts will also be available for download during the live event.

On-demand webinars

• Download links are located just above the recording on the webinar page.

You must be logged in to see the download links.

Are CEUs available?

Many of our webinars to carry AAPC CEU credits, and if a webinar does, it will be clearly indicated. You are automatically eligible for a CEU certificate if you attend the live webinar in its entirety. If you watch a webinar on-demand, you can qualify for a certificate by earning a passing score on the post-test.

Only AAPC CEUs are available at this time.

How do I get my CEU certificate?

Members and purchasers participating in a live webinar will have the opportunity to download the certificate at the completion of the teaching portion of the webinar. You must be present for the entire event to be eligible. The certificate will also be uploaded to the account profile for eligible attendees within 24 hours of the event.

If you connect by phone/audio only, please email us the telephone number you connected with to request your certificate.

For on-demand webinars, you will have an opportunity to submit the post test after watching the webinar. AAPC requires a score of 70% or higher to receive a certificate.

I'm having trouble registering, can you help?

Members
If you don't to see the 'registration' button on the webinar page, here are some troubleshooting tips:

• Check to make sure you are logged in. If you are not, login and refresh the registration page.
• Are you using a supported browser? Microsoft is no longer supporting Internet Explorer. We recommend using Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge.

If you continue to experience issues, please send us a screenshot of what you are encountering and we'll be happy to assist.

In this section:

• Can I ask a coding question?
• Is there additional coding help available?
• Does membership include a forum?

Can I ask a coding question?

CodingIntel does not provide individual answers to coding questions. From time to time, we may use questions that are submitted frequently as a basis for an article.

Why?

Sheer volume. There are more questions than there is time to answer them.

• Procedure coding. We don’t have the staff and or the expertise to read and code procedure notes. See below for options.
• Compliance issues. Some questions describe compliance situations that should be addressed by the compliance department or health care attorney, and not sent via email to someone outside the organization.
• Reimbursement issues. If only payers all followed coding rules! Unfortunately, some issues are specific to a payer’s policies and their own interpretation.
• What if questions: If you’re a coder, you’ve been in a meeting when someone says, “What if the NP and a PA walk into a bar,” no, sorry, What if both participate with a resident and an attending, and the PA….” or “What if, half the procedure is done on a Tuesday but the other half is done….” When I get a “what if” question, it’s never by itself. I am sorry, answering individual “what if” questions isn’t part of CodingIntel.

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If you haven't searched the site for the answer to your question, we encourage you to start with our site map. There you will find a curated list of the articles and resources available on the site. You can also enter a code or a key word in the search tool. We've included some helpful search tips below.

1. If your question is specific, try to be specific, for example, “lesion” will give you a more accurate search result than “surgery”.
2. But, if you are searching for general information for surgical coding, then, search “surgery”.
3. Search by CPT or HCPCS code

CodingIntel is not an exhaustive source. Our site covers a specific scope of topics that are within Betsy’s area of expertise. Those include: E/M services, Primary Care, Dermatology, General Surgery, and Behavioral Health.

Is there additional coding help available?

If you are looking for a Q&A service, the AMA offers the CPT Network and Knowledge Base, an internet-based system that provides AMA members and subscribers the tools to quickly research a database of commonly asked CPT coding questions and clinical examples (vignettes).

If you are a physician or work for a physician, we suggest asking the physician to send the coding question to his/her specialty society.  Compliance questions should go the compliance department or medical director, and serious compliance concerns should be handled under attorney client privilege. There are also listservs available, and you could pose your question there. The AAPC has one, as does Part B News.

Does membership include a forum?

We don't have a forum at this time. Our live webinars do include a Q&A portion where participants can ask Betsy questions related to the webinar topic.

Articles and Quick Reference Sheets

“[Resource name] provided by CodingIntel.com. Copyright 2023 Betsy Nicoletti, MS, CPC.

Coding Guides

Members may cite content from our Coding Guides non-commercial educational purposes within their organization with the acknowledgement referenced above

Coding Guides are a member-only resource and may not be distributed without express written permission from CodingIntel.com.

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Webinars and courses are a member-only benefit. In order to maintain the value of the content for our members, we restrict use of these resources to active members.

Members who wish to share webinars or courses with their organization may purchase an extended license to do so. If you are interested in this option, please email us with the title of the webinar or course you are interested in, and we will provide you with the details.

Please see our terms of use page for additional information.