Why Coding Teams Are Moving Toward Single Path Coding

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In this blog, learn how Single Path Coding streamlines facility and professional coding. Discover the benefits and see how TruBridge Encoder Technology supports efficiency.

Healthcare organizations across the U.S., from large urban hospitals to regional health systems, are facing growing pressures to improve coding accuracy, reduce claim denials, and optimize revenue. Traditionally, most hospitals maintain two separate coding teams:

Facility Coders – assign codes for the technical component of care (space, equipment, staff)
PRO Fee Coders – code the professional services provided by physicians and qualified healthcare professionals (QHPs)

While this dual-coding approach has been standard, it creates inefficiencies, duplicated work, and slower revenue cycles. That’s why more hospitals, clinics, and health systems nationwide are moving to Single Path Coding (SPC), sometimes called dual coding.

What is Single Path Coding?

Single Path Coding allows one coder to handle both facility and professional coding for the same patient encounter. This approach ensures:

Workflow consistency
Faster claim submission
Accurate revenue capture

Hospitals implementing SPC reduce handoffs, minimize coding errors, and align claims with payer expectations — improving both operational efficiency and financial performance.

Why Coding Teams Are Adopting Single Path Coding

The adoption of SPC is driven by operational needs, revenue goals, and emerging technology trends: 

Operational Efficiency: One coder per patient record eliminates workflow duplication and shortens coding cycles, reducing “lag days” between service delivery and claims submission.
Enhanced Revenue Capture: Single Path Coders can assign Relative Value Units (RVUs) more accurately and ensure all charges are captured, resulting in improved revenue integrity.
Reduced Claim Denials: Aligning facility and professional coding reduces inconsistencies that often trigger payer disputes.
Career Growth and Workforce Optimization: Hospitals can upskill existing coders into Single Path Coders and create new roles like Single Path Coding Auditors — addressing staffing shortages while expanding expertise.
AI and Automation Support: Many health systems are integrating AI-assisted coding tools and smart workflows to support Single Path Coding. AI can identify discrepancies between facility and professional claims, suggest code assignments based on clinical documentation, and flag encounters for secondary review to improve audit readiness.

Combining SPC with AI-driven insights can accelerate adoption and increase coding accuracy across the revenue cycle. 

Implementation Best Practices

Hospitals often take a phased approach to Single Path Coding: 

Start with high-volume areas, like Emergency Departments
Expand to inpatient and outpatient specialties gradually
Align with internal coding guidelines to ensure compliance with ICD-10-CM/PCS, CPT®, HCPCS, and AHA Coding Clinic rules
Provide training and upskilling for coders transitioning to Single Path Coding
Integrate AI-assisted coding and workflow automation to optimize efficiency and accuracy

Checklist for Successful SPC Adoption:

Define in-scope vs out-of-scope encounters
Train coders on both facility and professional coding workflows
Implement audit procedures and secondary reviews for complex cases
Use AI to streamline documentation review and code assignment
Monitor key metrics: coding accuracy, claim denials, RVU capture, and cycle times

Single Path Coding vs. Traditional Dual Coding

 

Feature  Dual Coding  Single Path Coding 
Coders involved  Facility & PRO Fee teams separately  Single Path Coder handles both 
Workflow efficiency  Moderate to low  High, fewer handoffs 
Revenue capture  Risk of missed charges  Improved, aligned with RVUs 
Claim denials  Higher due to inconsistencies  Lower with aligned coding 
Career opportunities  Limited  Expanded upskilling & auditing roles 
AI integration  Minimal  Supports coding decisions and QC 

The Bottom Line for HIM Leaders

Across the U.S., hospitals and health systems are moving toward Single Path Coding to streamline operations, increase revenue capture, and strengthen coding compliance. By combining a phased rollout, coder upskilling, internal guidelines, and AI-assisted workflows, organizations can modernize coding operations while addressing workforce challenges. 

TruBridge can help. Our Single Path Coder Upskilling Toolkit guides HIM teams through adoption, training, and phased implementation — helping health systems nationwide achieve better coding accuracy, efficiency, and revenue performance. 

Ready to modernize your coding workflow? Reach out today to receive the TruBridge Single Path Coder Upskilling Toolkit today.