Supercodes (also known as "explosion codes", "master codes", or "expansion codes") allow you to enter a single code into MacPractice that will automatically post a set of multiple procedures. Supercodes are completely customizable and can be set up to contain any procedures in a Fee Schedules.

Creating a Supercode

To create a new Supercode, to go References and select the Supercodes node from the sidebar. Click the sidebar plus button to create a new supercode record.

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Enter the Supercode (this is what you will enter in the New Charge window to use the supercode) and Description. To the right of these fields is a Fee Schedule pop-up button. Select the fee schedule that contains the procedures you would like to add to the supercode, and click the small green plus button to the right of this menu. A search window will open, allowing you to select the procedure code(s) you wish to add. You can either select the codes manually, or use the Search field to search by code or description. After selecting a code, click OK.

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Repeat this process for as many codes as you wish to enter. If you wish to use codes from a different fee schedule, simply change the schedule selected in the Fee Schedule menu.

Once you have added a code to the supercode, there are a number of additional options you can select.

If you always want a give provider to be associated to the procedure, select their name from the Provider menu. The provider selected here will be listed as the provider in the New Charge window. If this is set to None, the procedure will use the provider selected in the Fee Schedule. If the Fee Schedule provider is also set to None, the charge will use the patient's provider.

The Lock To Fee Schedule checkbox will force this Supercode to always use the associated codes from the Fee Schedule set in the Supercode.
If unlocked, the Charge Window will take the codes from the selected Fee Schedule in the Charge Window.
Once a code has been uncoupled from the fee schedule, you must remove and re-add the procedure to the supercode to enable the Lock To Fee Schedule checkbox again.

The Units column lists the number of units entered for the procedure in the associated fee schedule.

By default, the Unit Fee field will list the fee associated with the procedure in the Fee Schedule, and is not editable. There are 3 possible ways a supercode can pull a unit fee for a procedure:

• If the code is locked to a fee schedule, and the Fixed Unit Fee checkbox is unchecked, the Unit Fee will list the Unit Fee associated with the procedure in the fee schedule.

• If the code is not locked to a fee schedule,and the Fixed Unit Fee checkbox is checked, you can enter a new Unit Fee amount in the Unit Fee field. This will be used as the Unit Fee for the procedure when the Supercode is used.

• If the code is not locked to a fee schedule, and the Fixed Unit Fee checkbox is unchecked, the Unit Fee will pull whatever is entered for that code in the fee schedule selected in the charge window.

When you have finished entering your Supercode information, be sure to save your changes by going up to the Edit menu and selecting Save Record, or using the Command-S keyboard shortcut. 

To remove a procedure from a supercode, simply select the procedure code, then click the small red minus button in the upper right corner, next to the Fee Schedule pop-up button.

How To Use Supercodes

To start using the newly created Supercode, go to a patient's ledger and bring up a New Charge window (either by clicking the Charge menu > New Charge or using the Command+N keyboard shortcut). In the Code field enter the name of the Supercode.

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When you tab out of the field, all codes associated with this Supercode will appear in the charge window.

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If you need to adjust one of the codes in the list, select the code, then make your adjustments in the charge window. The adjustments will only affect the selected code at this time. If the change needs to be permanent you will need to go to the Fee Schedule make the adjustment and go to References > Supercode and update the Supercode. 

Searching for a Supercode

When entering a Supercode you can see a list of all Supercodes by going to a patient's ledger and bring up a New Charge window. When the New Charge window opens, hold down the Option Key on your keyboard and click the magnifying glass next to the code field.

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This will bring up a drop down window of all the Supercodes that have been created in your References area.

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Make your selection from the list of Supercodes, then click the OK button; all codes that are related to the Supercode will appear in the New Charge window.

Supercodes in the Dental Tab

You can also utilize Supercodes in the Dental Tab. When charting an item on the tooth, you can simply enter in the supercode into the search bar of the Charting Window. Supercodes will appear in orange. 

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Supercode Items Do Not Belong Error Message

If your office uses multiple fee schedules you may see a warning message appear when entering Supercodes in a patient's ledger.

This warning window will appear when the code(s) in the selected Supercode do not belong to the fee schedule that is listed in the charge window (which is pulled from the Patient tab). Therefore you will not be able to enter the Supercode information into the patient's ledger unless you select the proper fee schedule or add the code(s) to the current fee schedule.