In the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) code book, an alpha list of causes and places of injuries and poisoning, located at the back of Volume 2. This assists in trying to choose an accurate diagnostic code for an injury or poisoning case.

Unethical and illegal practice of changing or adding an amendment to a patient’s medical records either to obtain more reimbursement or due to a pending audit or legal review of records.

Individual entitled to the proceeds of a life insurance policy if no primary beneficiary is living when the insured dies. Also called contingent beneficiary, secondary beneficiary, or successor beneficiary.

1. Any health care delivery system other than traditional fee-for-service (e.g., health maintenance organization [HMO], preferred provider organization [PPO], individual practice association [IPA]). 2. Provision of health services in settings that are more cost effective than an inpatient, acute-care hospital such as skilled and intermediate nursing facilities, hospice program, and in-home services.

Strategy for treatment of a patient other than in a hospital.

For tax purposes, the value of a decedent’s estate is made as of the date of death. However, the estate executor may elect to value all estate assets 6 months from the date of death, the alternate valuation date.