What does the term "hard coding" specifically refer to?

The term "hard coding" specifically refers to HCPCS/CPT codes that are included in the hospital's chargemaster. A chargemaster is a comprehensive listing of items billable to a hospital's customers or patients, and it typically contains all the services, procedures, and corresponding codes. Hard coding in this context means that the codes are pre-set within the system to ensure that they are consistently utilized for billing purposes. This helps streamline the billing process and reduces errors by having standardized codes automatically applied to relevant charges.

In contrast, options that mention coding done by coders refer to the process where trained personnel assign codes based on medical documentation rather than predetermined entries in the chargemaster. Understanding the distinctions among these processes is crucial in healthcare reimbursement, as it impacts accuracy in billing and claims submission.