BusinessAugust 29, 2026

upcoding

UP-koh-ding

Definition

The unethical or illegal practice of billing for more expensive services or procedures than those actually provided to a patient.

Etymology

The term is a compound of the prefix 'up-' denoting an increase or elevation, and 'coding', referring to the standard medical billing codes used for insurance reimbursement.

In the news

Attorney General Tong criticizes insurance carriers for failing to curb upcoding, which contributes to higher out-of-pocket costs for consumers who are incorrectly billed for services they did not receive.

AG Tong Opposes Double-Digit Health Rate Hikes

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