What is the primary purpose of the NCCI edit rules in relation to coding and billing?

The primary purpose of the NCCI (National Correct Coding Initiative) edit rules is to ensure that procedures billed together are appropriately supported. This means that the NCCI helps coders and billers identify codes that should not be reported together under normal circumstances due to the relationship between them. The objective is to prevent improper coding that could potentially lead to inappropriate payments.

The NCCI edits serve as a tool to promote correct coding methodology by flagging combinations of services that may not be medically necessary when performed together, effectively promoting compliance with coding guidelines and thus reducing the risk of provider claim denials or fraud.

This focus on ensuring that procedures that are billed together have the necessary clinical justification is essential for maintaining the integrity of the healthcare billing process and ensuring that providers are reimbursed accurately for the services they provide.