Modeling Coding Intensity of Procedures in a U.S. Population-Based Hip/Knee Arthroplasty Inpatient Cohort Adjusting for Patient- and Facility-Level Characteristics.

Variations in procedure coding intensity, defined as excess coding of procedures versus industry (instead of clinical) standards, can result in differentials in quality of care for patients and have additional implications for facilities and payors. The literature regarding coding intensity of procedures is limited, with a need for risk-adjusted methods that help identify over- and under-coding using commonly available data, such as administrative claims. Risk-adjusted metrics are needed for quality control and enhancement.