Which principle is NOT a guideline for effective documentation?

Effective documentation is foundational to medical coding and billing, ensuring compliance and accuracy in claiming services provided. Each guideline serves a specific purpose in maintaining clarity, accountability, and completeness in medical records.

The principle that documentation should always list secondary codes is not a universal guideline for effective documentation. While it is important for accurate coding, whether or not to include secondary codes depends on the context of the visit, the patient's condition, and the medical necessity criteria. Secondary codes are used to provide additional details about the diagnosis or service provided but are not required for every scenario.

In contrast, the requirement that documentation must be legible promotes clarity and ensures that anyone reviewing the records can understand the patient's medical history, treatment provided, and the physician's notes. The necessity for the date of service to be evident is crucial for maintaining accurate records and tracking patient visits, while supporting the necessity of the visit helps justify the services billed to insurance providers. Each of these principles is fundamental to maintaining high standards of documentation that support clinical and billing activities.