Q: Is there a real-time coding scrubber? We have seen many that batch during daily run and return “coding issues” the next business day, but are there products that will scrub at the time the HCPCS, DX, Rev codes and modifiers are being entered and not allow to “complete” the coding claim until it passes the edits?
A: There are several ways to do real-time coding, auditing or scrubbing. Claim edits within a legacy or new-generation revenue management system can do some, while in-line charge auditing according to charge description master systems can also work. Many of the computer-assisted coding vendors are currently performing post-discharge coding workflows and all of them are talking about future real-time or concurrent coding. To date, however, this is a goal and not a reality.
Answered by David Hammer
