For this essay, you will examine a scenario and apply sound ethical decision-making to determine the proper course of action.
Scenario:
Cindy Lou Kodingwho is a new coder at Southern Columbia Surgical Center. She works under the Office Manager, Martha May, but also closely works with the physicians directly when she needs documentation clarification.
Dr. Whobris is a physician at Southern Columbia Surgical Center. He sees a 12-year-old patient who has been previously seen for a right tibia fracture and casting at the Southern Columbia Surgical Center and is being seen again today for a new cast. Dr. Whobris indicates this cast should be billed separately from the previous visit.
Cindy Lou questions Dr. Whobris regarding the new cast and tells Dr. Whobris that she believes it should be bundled under the same surgical visit from the prior visit. Dr. Whobris insists this be coded as a new cast and separately from any prior service.
- What is the potential ethical dilemma Cindy Lou is facing?
- What are the facts of the situation?
- What may be Cindy Lou’s assumptions, biases, emotions, and values attached to this dilemma?
- Who are the stakeholders that are affected by this dilemma? What may be these stakeholder’s assumptions, biases, emotions, and values attached to this dilemma?
- What are Cindy Lou’s options?
- What is the option(s) Cindy Lou should select? Justify the decision.
- How can this dilemma be prevented in the future?
- Why is it imperative that Cindy Lou follow all steps in this process? What benefit does it provide her professional growth and personal ethical decision-making skills?
- What is the final code(s) that Cindy Lou will apply?
Your essay must be at least two pages with at least one outside reference other than the course textbooks; at least one outside resource must come from the CSU Online Library. Adhere to APA Style when creating citations and references for this assignment.
