What does “unbundling” risk in the context of coding?

In the context of coding, "unbundling" refers to the practice of reporting individual components of a procedure or service separately, rather than using a bundled code that represents the entire service. This approach can raise concerns regarding potential fraud allegations. When services that are normally billed together are separated into individual parts, it may appear as though a healthcare provider is attempting to manipulate billing to increase reimbursement erroneously. This leads to scrutiny from insurers and can result in accusations of fraudulent billing practices. Therefore, understanding the risks associated with unbundling is crucial for coding accurately while also complying with regulations to avoid legal issues or financial penalties.