Components of a Cost/Charge Scenario as Utilized in the Life Care Plan

Life care planners regularly utilize medical coding systems and medical databases in their work. The goal of this article is to provide life care planners with procedural guidance in developing a cost/ charge scenario to project the cost of future hospitalizations, procedures, and surgeries that may be included in a life care plan. The basic components of cost/charge scenarios illustrate this process. Medical coding systems and various medical databases that a life care planner can utilize are discussed. The descriptions of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes noted in this article are simplified due to American Medical Association (AMA) copyright terms. An appendix to the article is provided for step-by-step instructions to obtain inpatient and outpatient facility charges utilizing one of the medical database options.