How does the Affordable Care Act impact insurance coding?

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) significantly impacts insurance coding by expanding coverage and mandating specific coding for essential health benefits. One of the primary goals of the ACA was to increase access to health insurance for a larger segment of the population, especially for those who were previously uninsured or underinsured. As a result, the law established a set of essential health benefits that must be covered by all plans in the individual and small group markets.

This requirement naturally affects insurance coding because healthcare providers must use specific codes to bill for these essential services accurately. The ACA also promoted standardized coding systems, such as ICD-10, which allows for better tracking of health outcomes and quality of care. By mandating coding for essential health benefits, the ACA ensures that the services covered are clearly defined and that providers are compensated for delivering care that meets these new standards.

The other options suggest limitations or reductions in coding, which are not in line with the ACA's focus on expanding healthcare coverage and ensuring comprehensive service provision.