39 Medical Billing and Coding Acronyms and Abbreviations to Know

Key Insights:

• Being familiar with medical billing and coding acronyms and abbreviations is important if you plan to work in this field.
• This list provides several healthcare abbreviations you may see in a medical setting. A medical billing and coding program can explain these codes and provide the skills needed for typical billing and coding functions.
• UMA can help you further your medical billing and coding education while providing you with access to a variety of student support services during your program, in addition to offering career services that can be helpful both before and beyond graduation.

Medical billing and coding is a growing healthcare field.¹ It’s also a career option for individuals who want to work in healthcare but not in a direct care role. A medical billing and coding program can help you prepare by teaching you the skills needed to perform typical job functions. It can also be helpful to understand some of the acronyms and abbreviations you may see in your day-to-day duties. Here are 39 to help you get started.

Basic Healthcare Abbreviations and Acronyms

You may be familiar with some basic healthcare abbreviations and acronyms, while others may be new. Here are a few that you might see when working as a medical biller and coder.

BP

BP stands for blood pressure, or the force of the blood inside the arteries. It is represented by systolic blood pressure (pressure when the heart is beating) over diastolic blood pressure (pressure when the heart is at rest).

CPR

CPR is short for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The American Heart Association reports that this lifesaving process — which involves activating emergency response (calling 911) and giving chest compressions — can increase a person’s chances of survival by double or triple after cardiac arrest.²

DNR

In the healthcare field, DNR is the acronym for Do Not Resuscitate. A DNR form tells a patient’s healthcare team that they do not want CPR if they stop breathing or their heart stops.

EHR or EMR

EHR stands for electronic health records. You may also see the acronym EMR, which is short for electronic medical records. Both refer to a digital database used to store, track, and organize patient health information.

HC

HC is sometimes used as the abbreviation for healthcare. Other times, it’s used to abbreviate home care. Because it can stand for different things, it’s important to ask your employer what they use this acronym to represent. They may prefer not to use it at all to avoid confusion or misunderstanding.

HIPAA

HIPAA is the acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This privacy rule protects patients from having their health information disclosed to unauthorized people or entities.

HR

HR is another healthcare abbreviation and short for heart rate. The Cleveland Clinic explains that healthcare providers may measure and track the number of times a patient’s heart beats per minute because if it is too fast or slow, it could be a sign of health issues or a problem with the heart.³

PCP

When signing up for insurance, you may have been asked to select a PCP or Primary Care Physician. A PCP is the doctor that you see for most of your medical concerns, such as if you feel sick or need an annual physical.

PHI

PHI stands for Protected Health Information, or information that typically cannot be disclosed without the patient’s consent. (There are some exceptions to this, such as if there is a serious threat to the patient or another individual’s health and well-being).⁴ Information falling under the PHI umbrella includes anything that can be used to identify a patient, such as their name, phone number, email address, date of birth, and insurance identification number.

Medical Coding Abbreviations and Acronyms

Medical coding involves transforming patient health information into alphanumeric codes using universally accepted medical coding systems. These codes are used during the medical billing process, as well as when reporting public health information. Here are several abbreviations and acronyms you may see in a medical coding position.

CPT

The CPT medical abbreviation is short for Current Procedural Terminology, which is a universally recognized medical coding system. CPT codes are used for medical procedures and services performed, such as surgeries, X-rays, and lab work.

DME

Another abbreviation you may see when working as a medical coder is DME, which stands for Durable Medical Equipment. These are devices designed for home use due to some type of medical reason. Examples include canes, crutches, hospital beds, nebulizers, walkers, and wheelchairs.

DOS

DOS is short for Date of Service. This is the date a service was provided, a procedure was performed, or when a patient was seen in the office. Including the date of service on medical bills and insurance claims enables patients and insurance companies to understand what type of medical services were provided and when.

Dx

Dx is the healthcare abbreviation for diagnosis. If a medical provider performs an examination or tests and determines that a patient has a condition or disease, using Dx in the file indicates to the medical coder that the information that follows is the patient’s diagnosis.

ED or ER

If you’ve ever been in an accident or broken a bone, you may have found yourself in an emergency department or ED. Some medical facilities use the ER abbreviation instead, for emergency room. Both refer to hospital departments that see patients with an injury, illness, or some type of trauma that requires immediate attention.

E/M

E/M is shorthand for evaluation and management. The American Medical Association indicates that E/M codes are part of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code set and are used when a healthcare professional provides services that involve either the evaluation or management of a patient’s health.⁵

HCPCS

HCPCS stands for the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System. Another universally recognized coding system — of which CPT codes are actually a part — HCPCS codes are used for medical supplies and products like durable medical equipment (DME), prosthetics, and orthotics. They’re also used for services not performed by a physician, such as ambulance services.

ICD

Whereas CPT codes identify procedures and services, and HCPCS codes are used for products, supplies, and non-physician services, International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes are used for diagnoses. This includes medical conditions, diseases, and injuries.

NPI

NPI is short for National Provider Identifier. This is a unique 10-digit number that identifies a specific healthcare provider. The use of NPIs for healthcare providers is required under HIPAA for administrative and financial transactions.⁶

OPD

OPD is the abbreviation used for outpatient department, which is sometimes shortened even more to OP. A similar variation is OPV, which stands for outpatient visit. Outpatient visits are those in which the patient is seen without being hospitalized.

Sx

Like HC, Sx can have different meanings. Some use this healthcare abbreviation as shorthand for symptoms, and others use it to signify surgery. Understanding your employer’s meaning when Sx is used is important for accurate medical coding.

Tx

Tx is the abbreviation for treatment. It’s a quick way to identify the healthcare provider’s plan for helping manage and/or care for a patient based on their illness, injury, or condition.

Medical Billing Abbreviations and Acronyms

Medical billing involves the submission of claims to insurance companies for reimbursement. It also includes invoicing patients and third parties for their portion of non-covered medical expenses. Here are some healthcare abbreviations and acronyms you’ll want to know as a medical biller.

AOB

AOB stands for Assignment of Benefits. You may have signed one before, such as when switching to a new doctor or when going to a new healthcare clinic. An AOB allows the healthcare provider to be reimbursed directly from your health insurance provider.

ATD

Another medical billing abbreviation is ATD, which is short for applied to deductible. Some insurance plans require the patient to pay a certain amount out of pocket annually before the health plan covers the expense. This is referred to as a deductible. So, money that the patient owes that goes toward their annual health insurance deductible can be signified with the acronym ATD.

CARC

This acronym stands for Claim Adjustment Reason Code. If a claim is not paid by the insurance company as it was billed, the CARC explains why it was adjusted. These codes may be used if the amount reimbursed to the healthcare provider was increased or decreased, or if the claim was denied.

COB

COB is short for coordination of benefits. Some people are covered by more than one health insurance plan, such as if they have insurance through their employer, but they’re on their spouse’s policy too. The COB determines which plan is the primary, paying its benefits first.

EOB

The EOB medical abbreviation stands for Explanation of Benefits. Insurance companies send EOBs to patients to let them know how much the healthcare provider charged for a particular product or service, how much the insurance company paid, and the remaining amount due, if any. Being familiar with this statement as a medical biller is important in case patients call with questions about one they received.

HMO

The HMO medical abbreviation is short for a type of insurance plan called a Health Maintenance Organization. With an HMO, patients name a primary care physician (PCP) and require a referral if they need to see a specialist. Typically, these plans don’t cover out-of-network providers except in emergency situations and are often focused on wellness and prevention.⁷

POS

Another type of insurance plan is called a POS or Point of Service plan. Patients with a POS can decide whether they see an in-network or out-of-network provider for their health concern, often paying a higher copay or coinsurance amount if the provider they choose is out-of-network.

PPO

PPO is the medical abbreviation for Preferred Provider Organization. Patients with this type of insurance plan can choose to see either in-network or out-of-network providers, typically paying less for a provider in the network. They also don’t generally need a referral to see a specialist.

Medicare Abbreviations and Acronyms

As of June 2025, 69 million Americans were enrolled in Medicare.⁸ This makes understanding Medicare abbreviations and acronyms important for individuals performing medical billing and coding functions. Here are a few that can be helpful to know.

AAA

AAA is the acronym used for an area agency on aging. These agencies help address the needs of older people living within a specific city, county, or regional area, and they can be public, private, or nonprofit.⁹

ACF

ACF is short for Administration for Children and Families. This governmental agency administers programs in an effort to help advance the well-being of children, individuals, families, and communities.

BHP

BHP stands for Basic Health Program. The Affordable Care Act enables states to create a BHP for low-income residents who don’t qualify for Medicaid, CHIP, or other income-based healthcare plans, providing them access to insurance coverage for essential health benefits at a more affordable rate.¹⁰

CAHPS

If you see this abbreviation as a medical biller and coder, it refers to the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality indicates that the CAHPS program started in 1995 and involves research and patient surveys to help improve our understanding of the patient experience, in addition to promoting the delivery of safe, patient-centered care.¹¹

CMS

In healthcare, this abbreviation stands for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CMS oversees the federal insurance programs: Medicare, Medicaid, the Health Insurance Marketplace, and the Children’s Health Insurance Plan.

HPSA

Some people live in a health professional shortage area or HPSA. These can be geographical areas where there is an overall shortage of healthcare providers for medical, dental, or mental health services, but they may also refer to areas with a shortage of providers for certain populations.

MA

An MA is a Medicare Advantage plan. An Original Medicare plan includes Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (hospital insurance), with the option to purchase Part D (prescription drug coverage) separately. A Medicare Advantage plan, also known as Part C, is a plan offered by a private company that is Medicare-approved and includes Parts A and B, and usually Part D.¹²

MAPD

If you see this acronym, it refers to a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage (a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan).

MDRP

MDRP is short for the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. Roughly 780 drug manufacturers participate in this program and are required to pay a rebate on drugs for which payment was made under a state’s Medicaid plan, according to Medicaid.gov, which is shared with the Federal government to help offset prescription drug costs.¹³

PFFS

The final Medicare abbreviation to make this list is PFFS, which stands for a Private Fee-For-Service plan. This is a type of Medicare Advantage (MA) plan that enables patients to see any Medicare-eligible healthcare provider who accepts the plan.

Knowledge Boost: Medical Billing and Coding Terms

Advance Your Knowledge With a Medical Billing and Coding Education

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in this field, a medical billing and coding program can help you prepare by teaching you the terms and skills needed for this healthcare role.

When you pursue your education at Ultimate Medical Academy, you also gain access to a variety of Student Services. If you have questions about financial aid, the admissions process, or even your coursework, our caring and compassionate team members will do what they can to get you the answers you seek.

We also have a Career Services team that can provide job search support once you’re ready to enter the field. Whether you want help with creating a compelling resume, are interested in interview tips, or wish to be connected with one of our employer partners, this team is dedicated to working with you before graduation and beyond.

Contact us to learn more about our programs or how we can help you as you work to pursue your healthcare career goals.

FAQs

• What does CPT stand for in medical coding? CPT stands for Current Procedural Terminology, a universally recognized coding system that includes codes for medical services and procedures.
• What does the acronym HCPCS stand for? HCPCS stands for the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System and includes codes used for medical supplies and products, in addition to codes for services not performed by a physician.
• What is AOB in medical billing? AOB is short for Assignment of Benefits, and once signed by a patient, it enables the healthcare provider to be reimbursed directly from their insurance provider.