[Expert Solution]: Those competencies will keep me in check…

Those competencies will keep me in check with HIPAA-proclaimed requirements (CMS & NCHS, 2020). For example, learning how to use laterality and the use of seventh characters (e.g., use of A when mnemonic suggests initial care of a fracture) will help reduce errors in coding trauma. The rules of chronic conditions, such as establishing the connection between hypertension and CKD (I12.9), will help me better cope with reflecting on patient severity and explaining the need to use the resources. The knowledge of Z codes (e.g., Z79 code to indicate prolonged medication) will also assist me in capturing ancillary factors affecting care in favor of holistic billing and population health analytics. In the future, I hope to learn more advanced coding situations like proper recording of comorbidities (such as how to code COPD with acute exacerbation and heart failure) and complications of a surgical case (such as post-op infections). I would like to learn the outpatient-specific considerations further, especially using preventive services such as colonoscopies (Z12.11) instead of tests to support symptoms.