Bonnie A. Alvord, CPC, CEMC, MCS-P
As a Certified Professional Coder, Bonnie Alvord has an extensive background in Medical Coding and Billing cycle management. Her expertise encompasses Inpatient and Outpatient E/M coding issues as well as General Surgery and Wound Care Procedural coding. Bonnie’s natural leadership skills and spirit captured nation-wide attention when she was announced as one of the Top 5 Coding Networkers in the United States in 2007. In January 2008 Bonnie’s dedication, hard work, and contributions to the Coding Profession were featured in the coding industry’s premier publication, The Coding Edge, which is published by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). As a Lead Coder and Medical Coding Auditor Bonnie has been instrumental in creating, implementing, and maintaining compliance plans as well as supervising and training up and coming staff in coding rules and regulations.
Experience
Bonnie’s focus in CPT coding lies in Medical Coding and Auditing with respect to multiple specialties including Pediatrics, Emergency Department, Wound Care, General Surgery, ENT, Neurology, Physical Therapy, OB/GYN, GI, Internal Medicine, and Trauma. Bonnie has over 7 years experience in the health care field, primarily focusing on medical coding, coding education, and compliance auditing. She has taught medical coding and billing for a trade school in addition. The recent elimination of Consultation Codes by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is a current interest for Bonnie, with a focus on governmental vs. commercial tertiary payer contractual agreements and education for both providers and coders.
Bonnie makes for one great coding consultant; medical practice after medical practice have been impressed. She has helped physician practices utilize proper E/M and Surgical coding conventions and guidelines to both maximize reimbursement and adhere to current compliance regulations. She enjoys assessing coding and billing issues, diagnosing the problem, and affecting a solution.
Technical expertise
- E/M Chart Assessments
- Coding and Billing Peer Education
- CMS Coding Compliance
- Compliance Auditing Processes
- General and Specialty Coding Research
- Physician/NPP Education
Educational & Professional Involvement
Bonnie is the past President for the Willamette Valley Local Chapter of the American Academy of Professional Coders. She was an advisory Board Member for Pioneer Pacific College in Springfield, OR, where she served as an adjunct instructor. She was trained in E/M Auditing while working as a medical coder for Highline Community Hospital in Seattle, WA. Her training was advanced to compliance auditing while employed with Oregon Medical Group in Eugene, OR. Bonnie has been a Coder since 2002. She was an Adjunct Instructor at Pioneer Pacific College in Springfield, OR in 2008, where she taught the Professional Medical Coding with high accolades from both students and staff. She has also gone through rigorous instruction and examination to attain certification as a Medical Compliance Specialist for Physician Offices.