III 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 509 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 13, 2006 Mr. Hatch (for himself, Mr. Bennett, and Mr. Burr) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating June 21, 2006, as National Professional Medical Coder Day, in honor of the dedication and continued service of professional medical coders to the Nation.

Whereas professional medical coders are the sentries of our national health; Whereas medical coders regularly communicate with physicians and other health care professionals to clarify diagnoses or to obtain additional information in the assignment of alpha-numeric codes; Whereas medical coders stand as the front line against potential medicare fraud and abuse while assuring that the physician, hospital, and clinic receive the fairest compensation for the services provided; Whereas medical coders are knowledgeable of medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, and the code sets necessary to serve effectively in their professional role within the health care community; Whereas medical coders are team players committed to ethical and sound medical documentation and reimbursement practices; Whereas medical coders work in a variety of health care environments; Whereas nearly 40 percent of all medical coders in the United States work in hospitals; Whereas medical coders also work in the offices of physicians, nursing care facilities, outpatient care centers, and home health care providers; Whereas insurance firms that offer health plans employ professional medical coders to tabulate and analyze health information; Whereas medical coders in public health departments supervise data collection from health care institutions and assist in research; Whereas Department of Defense policy requires accurate and prompt documentation and coding of medical encounters within the military health care system to assist military treatment facility operations; Whereas employment of professional medical coders is expected to grow through 2012, due to the increasing number of medical tests, treatments and procedures, and the consequent responsibility to provide the best quality health care in a market-driven economy; and Whereas on National Professional Medical Coder Day we honor these sentries of our medical community and may each be held to the highest standard in the interest of national health and prosperity: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)designates June 21, 2006, as National Professional Medical Coder Day; (2)commends professional medical coders for their outstanding contributions to this great Nation; (3)salutes professional medical coders for their unyielding dedication; and (4)encourages all Americans to commemorate this occasion with appropriate programs and activities paying tribute to medical coders and honoring all those who protect the Nation’s health.