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.

System of coding for integrative health care that consists of five-character alphabetic symbols with appended two-character practitioner modifiers that represent the practitioner type. These codes represent more than 4000 integrative health care products and services (Box A-2 ). ABC codes include the following specialty areas: acupuncturist, body work, chiropractic, conventional nursing, indigenous medicine, mental health care, minority health care, oriental medicine, physical medicine, spiritual and prayer-based healing, Ayurvedic medicine, botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, holistic dentists and physicians, homeopathy, massage therapy, midwifery, naturopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, and somatic educational. ABCs were used to bill for these services as a pilot study maintained by Alternative Link, Inc. As of October 16, 2006, Alternative Link discontinued its pilot study. Covered entities under HIPAA may not use the codes in HIPAA transactions but may use the codes for non-HIPAA transactions. Also called advanced billing concept (ABC) codes. See also integrative health care and alternative medicine. Website: www.alternativelink.comBox A-2ABC CODE WITH MODIFIERThe following description illustrates the coding hierarchy of ABC code with modifier:CEBAM-1G High-risk pregnancy identification, Antepartum, Midwifery, Practice specialties

1. Nontraditional medical care given by providers such as acupuncturists. 2. Medical care received instead of inpatient hospitalization (e.g., outpatient surgery, home health care, skilled nursing facility care).

Assisted living facility for elderly who do not need nursing care. ACFs have private and semiprivate rooms for residents and are usually near shopping and entertainment resources.