Coding 101

On the list of things that cause dentists headaches, dealing with insurance holds a primary position. Keeping track of coding changes and transaction regulations, understanding the ins and outs of each company's specific provisions, and chasing seemingly stagnant reimbursements steal precious time from patient care and can fray the nerves of the most balanced general practitioner. Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) membership surveys consistently show that dealing with insurance companies leads the list of dentists' gripes, according to an article in the April issue of AGD Impact, the monthly newsmagazine of the AGD.