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Terms of Service

Effective Date: March 1, 2026 | Last Updated: March 8, 2026

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your use of HCC Buddy (“the Service”), a web-based ICD-10-CM encoder and AI coding assistant. By accessing or using HCC Buddy, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

1. Service Description

HCC Buddy provides ICD-10-CM code lookup, HCC category mapping, AI-powered coding assistance, NPI provider lookup, and drug reference tools for healthcare coding professionals.

2. Account Registration

  • You must provide a valid email address and create a password to register.
  • You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials.
  • You must be at least 18 years old to create an account.
  • You may not share your account with others or create multiple accounts.

3. Acceptable Use

You agree NOT to:

  • Submit any Protected Health Information (PHI), including patient names, member IDs, dates of birth, or Social Security Numbers.
  • Use the Service for any purpose that violates applicable laws or regulations.
  • Attempt to reverse-engineer, decompile, or extract source code from the Service.
  • Use automated tools to scrape, crawl, or otherwise access the Service beyond normal use.
  • Resell or redistribute the Service or its data without written permission.

4. Subscriptions and Payments

  • Free accounts are subject to daily usage limits as described on our pricing page.
  • Paid subscriptions are billed monthly or annually through Stripe, a third-party payment processor.
  • Some plans may include a free trial period. If you do not cancel before the trial ends, your subscription will automatically convert to a paid plan at the listed price.
  • You may cancel your subscription at any time. Access continues through the end of the current billing period.
  • Refunds are not provided for partial billing periods.
  • Billing disputes should be directed to privacy@hccbuddy.com before initiating a chargeback with your payment provider.

5. AI Disclaimer

HCC Buddy's AI coding assistant is a reference tool only. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations.

  • AI responses may contain errors. Always verify against official ICD-10-CM guidelines and payer-specific requirements.
  • The Service does not replace professional judgment or certified coder expertise.
  • HCC Buddy is not responsible for coding errors, claim denials, or audit findings resulting from reliance on AI-generated responses.

6. HIPAA Disclaimer

HCC Buddy is not a HIPAA covered entity and does not operate as a Business Associate as defined under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HCC Buddy does not enter into Business Associate Agreements (BAAs). Users must not submit any Protected Health Information (PHI) to the Service.

7. Intellectual Property

  • ICD-10-CM codes are maintained by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and are in the public domain.
  • HCC Buddy's software, design, branding, and proprietary content are owned by HCC Buddy.
  • You retain ownership of any documents you upload to the Service.

8. Privacy

Your use of the Service is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which describes how we collect, use, and protect your information.

9. Limitation of Liability

HCC Buddy is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, express or implied. To the maximum extent permitted by law, HCC Buddy shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the Service, including but not limited to coding errors, claim denials, or lost revenue.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless HCC Buddy, its owners, and its affiliates from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your use of the Service, your violation of these Terms, or your submission of any data (including PHI) in violation of the Acceptable Use policy.

11. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account if you violate these Terms. You may delete your account at any time by contacting us at privacy@hccbuddy.com.

12. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Service shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Harris County, Texas. You agree to submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

13. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. We will notify registered users of material changes via email or in-app notification. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

14. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and HCC Buddy regarding your use of the Service and supersede any prior agreements or understandings.

15. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Contact us at privacy@hccbuddy.com.