AMA CPT® Assistant - 1991 Issue 1 (Spring)
Resource Materials for the Physician Office (Spring 1991)
Spring 1991 pages 8-9 Coding Commentary Resource Materials for the Physician Office Every physician's office needs comprehensive medical reference material to appropriately code diagnoses and procedures. Many of the questions we answer at the American Medical Association can be researched in common reference books that are easy to use and provide additional information helpful in choosing the correct code(s). While each physician office may require specific reference tools, the following is a suggested list of coding resources for the medical office. Please note: The AMA does not endorse any specific non-AMA reference books. The books listed are examples of...
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Article Overview
This article reviews practical reference materials commonly used in physician offices for medical coding, documentation support, and claims preparation. It is aimed at coders, billing staff, and office managers who want to understand the types of books, directories, and specialty manuals that can support diagnosis and procedure coding workflows. The discussion is historical and resource-oriented, covering broad categories of guidance rather than detailed coding policy.
Why This Topic Matters
It helps readers identify the kinds of reference tools that were considered useful for coding and billing support in a physician office setting, including general coding references, diagnosis resources, and specialty-specific manuals.
Article Sections
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Coding Commentary
Introduces the article’s focus on office coding reference materials and the role of general reference sources in supporting coding work.
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Suggested coding resources for the medical office
Summarizes the main categories of reference books and guidebooks discussed for diagnosis, procedure, and claim support in physician offices.
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Specialty coding educational manuals
Lists examples of specialty-oriented coding guidebooks and related educational materials used by different clinical practices.
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Additional specialty reference books
Notes other specialty-specific books and resource types that may be useful depending on the practice setting.
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Ordering information and availability
Provides general information about where the referenced materials may be obtained and how AMA-distributed publications were ordered at the time.
What You Will Learn
- Which broad categories of reference materials were recommended for physician office coding support
- How coding resources were grouped by function, such as procedure coding, diagnosis coding, and claim preparation
- What types of specialty-oriented manuals and guidebooks were mentioned as examples
- How office staff could think about selecting reference tools for a given practice
Who Should Read This
- Physician office coders
- Medical billing staff
- Practice managers
- Clinical office administrators
- Coding educators
Code Ranges Discussed
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