National Coder Day
National Coder Day June 21.
SENATE RESOLUTION 509--DESIGNATING JUNE 21, 2006, AS ``NATIONAL
PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL CODER DAY'', IN HONOR OF THE DEDICATION AND
CONTINUED SERVICE OF PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL CODERS TO THE NATION
Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. Bennett, and Mr. Burr) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the
Judiciary:
S. Res. 509
Whereas professional medical coders are the sentries of our
national health;
Whereas medical coders regularly communicate with
physicians and other health care professionals to clarify
diagnoses or to obtain additional information in the
assignment of alpha-numeric codes;
Whereas medical coders stand as the front line against
potential medicare fraud and abuse while assuring that the
physician, hospital, and clinic receive the fairest
compensation for the services provided;
Whereas medical coders are knowledgeable of medical
terminology, anatomy, physiology, and the code sets necessary
to serve
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effectively in their professional role within the health care
community;
Whereas medical coders are team players committed to
ethical and sound medical documentation and reimbursement
practices;
Whereas medical coders work in a variety of health care
environments;
Whereas nearly 40 percent of all medical coders in the
United States work in hospitals;
Whereas medical coders also work in the offices of
physicians, nursing care facilities, outpatient care centers,
and home health care providers;
Whereas insurance firms that offer health plans employ
professional medical coders to tabulate and analyze health
information;
Whereas medical coders in public health departments
supervise data collection from health care institutions and
assist in research;
Whereas Department of Defense policy requires accurate and
prompt documentation and coding of medical encounters within
the military health care system to assist military treatment
facility operations;
Whereas employment of professional medical coders is
expected to grow through 2012, due to the increasing number
of medical tests, treatments and procedures, and the
consequent responsibility to provide the best quality health
care in a market-driven economy; and
Whereas on National Professional Medical Coder Day we honor
these sentries of our medical community and may each be held
to the highest standard in the interest of national health
and prosperity: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates June 21, 2006, as ``National Professional
Medical Coder Day'';
(2) commends professional medical coders for their
outstanding contributions to this great Nation;
(3) salutes professional medical coders for their
unyielding dedication; and
(4) encourages all Americans to commemorate this occasion
with appropriate programs and activities paying tribute to
medical coders and honoring all those who protect the
Nation's health.
Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I am pleased to submit today, along with my
colleagues Senator Bob Bennett and Senator Richard Burr, the National
Professional Medical Coder Day resolution.
By passing this resolution, Congress will recognize June 21, 2006, as
National Professional Medical Coder Day, which will help to raise
awareness about the important work that medical coders perform and
their dedication to their profession.
There are about 80,000 professional medical coders employed in the
United States, and that number is expected to continue to grow due to
the increasing number of medical tests, treatments and procedures, and
the consequent scrutiny to provide the best quality health care in a
market driven economy. Medical coders are a diverse group of women and
men dedicated to ``running the numbers'' of health care. They translate
the information that a physician documents during a patient visit into
numerical codes that are used for both payment and statistical
purposes.
Medical coders are sentries of our Nation's health. They communicate
regularly with physicians and other health care professionals to
clarify diagnoses or to obtain additional information in the assignment
of alphanumeric codes. They are knowledgeable of medical terminology,
anatomy, physiology, and the code sets necessary to serve effectively
in their professional role within the health care community. They are
team players committed to ethical and sound medical documentation and
reimbursement practices.
Medical coders work in a variety of health care environments. Nearly
40 percent of all coding jobs are in hospitals. Others work in the
offices of physicians, nursing care facilities, outpatient care
centers, and home health care services. Insurance firms that offer
health plans employ coders to tabulate and analyze health information.
Medical coders in public health departments supervise data collection
from health care institutions and assist in research. The Department of
Defense policy requires accurate and prompt documentation of and coding
of medical encounters within the Military Health System to assist
Military Treatment Facility operations. The compliance plan for third-
party payers of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of
the Inspector General acknowledges the specialized training of medical
coders required due to the greater legal exposure related to coding
medical services. Coders also stand as the front line against the
potential fraud and abuse of the Medicare and Medicaid Programs while
assuring that the physicians, hospitals, and clinics receive accurate
compensation for the services provided.
The abilities coders possess to collect data about diagnoses and
procedures figure prominently within my own interests for quality
health care. Medical coders also provide us with the data we need for
making tough choices in health care.
This resolution stems from positive citizen actions. The quest for a
national day of recognition began as a grassroots campaign. Over the
past 4 years, medical coders from around the country have gathered
support through a national petition and State proclamations crediting
the work of their coders. The Secretary of the Department of Health and
Human Services Michael Leavitt made Utah the very first State to honor
coders when, as Governor, he signed on April 15, 2003, a proclamation
declaring a day of honor for coders in Utah. Since then, 28 other
States have signed similar proclamations. The State of Florida was the
most recent addition to their campaign, and medical coders continue
their efforts in achieving recognition at the State level. Let us now
recognize their efforts as a nation.
It is my hope that this resolution will help advance the recognition
of professional medical coders; and, therefore, the attention given to
their commendable work. It recognizes contributions to the national
health care system and it reminds us of medical coders' dedication to
the value of hard work in the interest of a national priority--quality
health care for everyone. I applaud that contribution and am hopeful
that the Senate will pass this resolution marking June 21, 2006, as
National Medical Coder Day.