As a medical coder, you will assign specific numeric codes to medical services, procedures and diagnoses. Allied’s Medical Coding teaches you how to apply the right code in the right place and streamline the medical billing process. From knowledge of ICD-9-CM and CPT codes to reimbursement issues, you will be ready to play an important part in a medical office.
Friday, March 27, 2009
You've completed your
medical coding classes; now you want to get certified. The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) offers five different medical coding certification exams -- from
Certified Professional Coder to Specialty Credentials. How do you know which credential is the right one for you? Here's a breakdown of the examinations available to enhance your medical coding career:
Certified Professional Coder® (CPC®)
The CPC® exam addresses billing and coding for physician services. If you code in the following places or situations, this is the exam for you:
-Physician office or group
-Hospital-associated physician office or group
-Health system-associated physician office or group
-Home health agency
-Physician group at a university and or in educational setting
-Compliance auditor or forensic auditor of physician claims
-Physician billing service
-Ambulatory surgery center (ASC)
-Outpatient hospital services not reimbursed by Ambulatory Patient Category (APCs) groups
-If you are a consultant, educator, legal counsel, physician or other caregiver seeking credential to demonstrate your command of physician-based medical coding
Certified Professional Coder – Hospital® (CPC-H®)
The CPC-H® exam concentrates on outpatient facility services. If you fulfill the following roles in connection with medical coding, this is the exam for you:
-Billing Ambulatory Patient Category (APCs) groups for facility outpatient services.
- Working in hospital outpatient billing and coding department
-Auditing facility outpatient service billing and coding
-Ambulatory Surgical Center
-Performing utilization review for outpatient services
-If you are a consultant, educator, legal counsel, physician or other care-giver seeking credential to demonstrate your command of medical coding
Certified Professional Coder – Payer® (CPC-P®)
The CPC-P® exam concentrates on coding and billing after it's been submitted to the payer. Take this exam if you are in the following situations:
-Claims manager for a payer (private insurance, Medicare, Medicade, etc.)
-Auditor for a payer
-Utilization review
-Post-billing auditor for a physician group or facility
-Billing service
-If you are a consultant, educator, legal counsel, physician or other care-giver seeking credential to demonstrate your command of medical coding
CIRCC™ (Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder™)
The CIRCC ™ exam was created for individuals who will be working in the complex and specialized areas of interventional radiology and cardiovascular coding and charging. It covers:
-Diagnostic angiography, non-vascular interventions, and percutaneous vascular interventions
-Diagnostic cardiac catheterization and basic coronary arterial interventions
-Sections on ICD-9-CM, basic coding (E&M, modifiers, etc.), anatomy and terminology
Specialty Credentials
AAPC has developed specialty credentials to enable working coders to demonstrate superior levels of expertise in selected specialty disciplines. Whether a coder wishes to show expertise in a specialty they currently work in or wish to move to another specialty, these credentials are designed to prove superior knowledge and skills.
The medical coding certification exams are designed to test your knowledge of medical coding principles and proficiency. Whatever exam you choose, it is the perfect way to take your medical coding career to the next level. Take the next step today - complete your medical coding classes and sign up for a medical coding certification exam today. The right credentials can set you apart! Labels: AAPC, Certified Medical Coder, medical coding certification, medical coding exam
Read Full Article>> How to Determine the Right Medical Coding Credential for You
