Coding in 2026: 10 habits that every practice needs in the year ahead

Coding may not be the most glamorous aspect of running a primary care practice, but it is one of the most important.

When codes don’t match the visit, or documentation is thin, claims get denied, downgraded or delayed. Over time, that shows up in tighter margins, more back-and-forth with payers and less room to hire, give raises or invest in new services.

Better results start with clearer notes — what problems were addressed, what data was reviewed, what changed in the plan and how much time was spent when time-based billing applies.

When that story is on the page, picking the right code and defending it is far less painful. For support staff, the leverage point is often up front — verifying coverage, confirming the reason for the visit and making sure authorizations and referrals are in place before the claim ever gets built.

Practice leaders can tie it together by setting simple “house rules” for common scenarios, keeping an eye on denial patterns and making sure coding feedback is specific enough to act on. None of that requires a complete overhaul. A few well-chosen habits, repeated every day, can cut down on avoidable denials and make revenue more predictable without pulling focus away from patient care.