You already know correct coding is crucial, but here’s an unexpected reason to keep your coder’s cranium in top-notch condition.
Because of what the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs describes as a ‘coding error,’ 600 vets received letters that incorrectly led them to believe they had Lou Gehrig’s Disease, reports Associated Press. Reading something like that was quite a shock, because ALS is a debilitating disease that attacks nerves and muscles. Most ALS die within five years.
The erroneous letters caused panic and problems, of course. One Air Force reservist spent $3,000 getting a second medical opinion during the week after she received the letter, AP reports.
The VA wrote the letter to inform veterans with ALS about their benefits, and 1,200 who received the letter were actually the correct recipients. The VA is telephoning everyone on the list of 600 who weren’t supposed to get the letter.
The VA says it’s looking into exactly what happened to cause the error.
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