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Terms of Service

HCC Buddy terms of service. Read our terms and conditions for using the ICD-10-CM Encoder and Ask Buddy.

Effective Date: March 1, 2026 | Last Updated: September 26, 2026

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your use of HCC Buddy (“the Service”), an ICD-10-CM Encoder and Ask Buddy reference tool available on hccbuddy.com and in the HCC Buddy iPhone app. By accessing or using HCC Buddy, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

If you use the HCC Buddy iPhone app, the Apple Standard End User License Agreement (EULA) also applies to your use of the app.

1. Service Description

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

2. Account Registration

  • You can register with an email address and password, or sign in with Google or Apple. Your HCC Buddy account works on hccbuddy.com and in the iPhone app.
  • 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:

  • Enter, upload, or send 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.
  • New accounts include a 7-day account trial that does not require a card. The account trial does not sign you up for a paid subscription and does not charge you when it ends. After it ends, free access continues with its usage limits.
  • Website subscriptions. Pro subscriptions purchased on hccbuddy.com are processed by Stripe, a third-party payment processor, and billed monthly or annually under the terms shown at checkout, including any billing trial shown there.
  • App Store subscriptions. Starting with iPhone app version 1.0.1, you can buy an optional monthly or annual Pro subscription through Apple. If you buy an App Store subscription, Apple charges your Apple Account and manages billing. App Store subscriptions do not include a separate introductory trial. If you buy one during your account trial, billing starts right away.
  • Website and App Store subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled before the renewal date. Paid access generally continues through the end of the paid billing period.
  • A Pro subscription applies to your HCC Buddy account on both hccbuddy.com and the iPhone app. You do not need a second subscription to use Pro on both.
  • Except where required by law, refunds are not provided for partial billing periods on website purchases. Refunds for App Store purchases are handled by Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.
  • Website billing disputes should be directed to privacy@hccbuddy.com before initiating a chargeback with your payment provider.

Cancellation. You can cancel a website Pro subscription at any time from your account billing page at hccbuddy.com/account, or email support@hccbuddy.com with your account email and we will process the cancellation manually within one business day.

To manage or cancel an App Store subscription, open Settings > Apple Account > Subscriptions on your iPhone. HCC Buddy support cannot cancel an Apple-managed subscription for you.

Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period, and you generally keep Pro access until then.

5. AI Disclaimer

Ask Buddy 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 on the website, in the iPhone app under Account > Delete account, or by contacting us at privacy@hccbuddy.com. Deleting your HCC Buddy account does not cancel an App Store subscription. Cancel it in Settings > Apple Account > Subscriptions.

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.