7 coding mistakes that quietly cost primary care practices money

Coding challenges in primary care are often less about discovering new codes and more about aligning documentation with current rules. Small habits like defaulting to lower E/M levels or relying on outdated templates can quietly reduce revenue without raising compliance red flags.

For independent and employed practices alike, improvement starts with education, internal review and collaboration between clinicians and billing teams.

Ensuring documentation reflects the true complexity and time involved in patient care helps practices be paid appropriately for the work they already do.