Dana Chock

I’ve been a pathology coder since Fall of 2012, reviewing CPTs and assigning ICDs for my pathology customers, and I step in to assist with deficiencies, rejections, and denials. I’m known for being “super kind to assist,” while also working diligently to find solid, reliable answers when coding guidance isn’t immediately available.

For almost the past 4 years, I’ve worked for an AI autonomous coding company, validating CPT, ICD, and stain accuracy in scheduled quality analysis work. I review Ground Truth and MV (model validation) outputs, check accuracy dependent on HL7, analyze coding trends, and create customer rules when applicable, with a strong understanding of thresholds, acceptability, and quality targets.

Before that, I held multiple coding roles across pathology, anesthesia, and laboratory specialties, including reviewing and correcting claim issues, auditing coding quality, and ensuring rules worked as designed in both testing and production environments. I’ve also supported colleagues by outsourcing my expertise for pathology and laboratory questions, and I update coding details in Epic when edits require modifiers or necessary procedure descriptions.

I also bring deep denials and appeals experience—researching and appealing pathology, laboratory, and anesthesia denials, contacting payers, and coordinating follow-ups so claims don’t become untimely. Alongside my coding work, I present pathology education for AAPC and AHIMA chapters, created “Pathology Coding Across the World” with my Pathology Nerd Squad, and have delivered “hands on” surgical pathology and cytology sessions nationwide.