The Truth
About Upcoding
In Indiana

Exaggerated Diagnoses.
Higher Costs for Patients.

UPCODING | Verb
When diagnoses are coded as more severe than they are. Hospitals rake in cash — patients pay more out of pocket and premiums go up.

Upcoding is real and hurts patients.

Take a look at The Guardian’s reporting on upcoding at Parkview Health here in Indiana.

Doctor speaking with a patient in a clinical setting

“Somebody comes in with knee arthritis and basically they’re having pain, but they haven’t had any other treatment … These guys will jump right to a knee replacement surgery.”

An email showed “a supervisor at Parkview DeKalb telling nurses that she had reviewed their charts for the week and found they had ‘missed’ $50,000 in charges as a team.”

“The more you code, the higher you code, the more credit you get, which would translate to bonuses.”

“It makes me feel disgusting. It makes me feel dirty … Why should I be trying to make sure that they’re getting the most money that they can?”

“The hospital was like, ‘Take my pricing or no deal,’ recalled one former Parkview employee.”

Tell Hospitals: Bill Honestly. Stop Upcoding.

Hoosiers deserve accurate diagnoses — and fair prices.