How Many CPC CEUs Do I Need Every Year To Stay Certified?

First of all, congratulations on being a certified coder! This not only means you display the aptitude for mastering the length, in-depth material but also made a commitment to preparing yourself. As you likely expected, learning coding material once isn’t sufficient if you expect to maintain positive employment. That same spirit of preparing for examination must continue throughout your career if you desire steady employment and chances to advance.

You Have To Keep Learning With CEUs

This is because medical coding is a constantly changing environment, as new codes are added and old codes are scrapped constantly. Technological advancements increase the amount of medical research existing, so coders need to be just as adaptable by the time that ripples of change reach them.

Thus, CEUs were born. CEU stands for “continuing education unit,” and it is a practical means through which coders demonstrate determination to stay afloat regarding new coding information. You can obtain CEUs through attending events approved by the AAPC as enriching, instructing at a post-secondary school (with pre-approval), or completing post-secondary course work. In short you need to complete continuing education for every medical coder's certification you hold.

The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) strives to make CEUs as simple as possible for its certified coders, providing several online tools to help its coders establish CEU approval and track their units. The purpose of CEUs works well alongside the AAPC’s mission to create a community of coders; the organization promotes workshops, presentations, and other events that help coders stay current while meeting one another and developing long-lasting rapport.

You have to earn a certain number of CEUs semi-annually to maintain your certification, and the number depends on how many certifications you hold. If you hold one certification, you require 36 CEUs every two years. Two certifications require 48 CEUs, three certifications require 60 CEUs, four certifications require 72 CEUs, and five or more require 80 CEUs.

Rather than looking at these requirements as a burden, approach them as an opportunity to retain that youthful studiousness that landed you these certifications in the first place... and if you only hold one single certification you may want to consider getting a second advanced certification. The CPC-H for instance is a good way to improve your resume and possibly increase your earning power as a medical coder.

What Is A Medical CPT Code

Since it first appeared in seventeenth century London, early forms of medical coding dealt primarily with mortality and everything associated with it: diseases, death rates, and recognized symptoms of diseases or ailments. Considering that codifying medical conditions arose from the era of bubonic plague in Europe, it is easy to see why early “coders” were so preoccupied with death and all its causes.

It was not until four hundred years later that medical coding fully advanced into its current form. The 1960s marked the birth of CPT codes, which stands for “Current Procedural Terminology.” These codes were developed and presented by the American Medical Association (AMA) to represent medical services.

These codes contain five digits and describe a variety of medical attention forms. For instance there is a code for everything ranging from routine check-ups to vaccinations. The comprehensive set of codes is released and regularly amended by the AMA to ensure that it retains its accuracy and effectiveness, regularly re-releasing the official publication.

CPT codes are critical to any medical facility in the United States. Without CPT codes, a medical coder and biller would be unable to accurately bill an insurer or patient. A coder must have access to accurate and thorough codes describing medical conditions and treatment. Linking the diagnosis code to the code of the treatment rendered makes billing a high-efficiency machine, cutting payment delays and securing customer satisfaction.

CPT codes are not accessible to the general public for free because the AMA publishes these codes itself and therefore exercises considerable control over their release. Medical coders or those aspiring to break into the field, however, can purchase code books and corresponding computer software through the Internet or programs from the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) or AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association).

How Medical Coding Originated

How did medical coding originate? Well, once upon a time, a mommy and a daddy loved each other very much and decided to take that love and turn it into a quantified system of medical coding. Okay, that’s not quite how it went.

Although medical coding is currently employed alongside the use of advanced medical and computing technology, the practice is much older than one might initially guess. In fact, the earliest noted form of medical coding is cited in the 1660s – before computers, type writers, and digital thermometers. See this post for more of what medical coding is today.

How did something so advanced date back so far in history? Out of necessity. Any high school student who has had a history or social studies class can tell you that the seventeenth century was rough on London, with plague decimating populations of people. The bubonic plague outbreak was so devastating that doctors decided to record the circumstances of the deaths it caused for some hope of beating it.

The next big round of early medical coding was late nineteenth century France. A physician named Jacques Bertillion developed the Classification of Causes of Death, which became standardized within a decade.

Today, medical coders work with ICD-9 codes (or ICD-10 for those who’ve already converted to the most current codes), which stand for International Classification of Diseases, ninth (or tenth) revision. Like its predecessors, the ICD code system is death-driven, primarily codifying conditions that result in fatality.

Differing in this respect, CPT (Common Procedural Terminology) codes that developed in the 1960s in the United States offer a standard set of codes to describe medical procedures ranging from diagnoses to various treatments. This set of codes is the last major development to the system of medical coding.

When you look at its place in the grand scheme, however, it’s not so much a dead-end for coding but the jaw-dropping final chapter if we think about coding as a film franchise.

See this post on the future of medical coding.

The Main Differences Between The CPC Exam And The CPC-H Exam

If you are looking into taking either the CPC exam or the CPC-H exam, chances are that you have chosen to seek certification from the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) for a reason. Becoming a certified professional coder through the AAPC puts you at a significant advantage, as the organization reports a 20% higher earning potential than those without certification.

Employers are also more likely to opt for a certified coder because the AAPC has a standing reputation of turning out efficient and effective workers. But you probably know this, so let’s address something a little less obvious: the CPC exam versus the CPC-H exam.

Both exams contain 150 multiple choice questions, for which you have 5 hours and 40 minutes to complete. Both exams are open book and give you a single chance to re-take the exam for free. (Even though you can re-take it, study thoroughly the first time to avoid having to sit for another five hours!) AAPC students can take either exam at a $40 discount, paying $260 instead of $300.

Both exams test knowledge in procedural terminology and medical equipment in addition to the standard background in anatomy and physiology. However, the CPC exam prepares the taker for work in a physician’s office, where as the CPC-H exam prepares the taker for work in hospital groups.

According to the AAPC, the following are content areas found on the CPC exam:

• Anesthesia, Radiology, Medicine, Nervous, Endocrine, Digestive, Urinary, Musculoskeletal, Evaluation and Management, Anatomy and Physiology, Mediastinum & Diaphragm, Practice Management, Male/Female Genital, Hemic & Lymphatic, Maternity & Delivery, Eye & Ocular Adnexa, Pathology, Integumentary, Respiratory, Laboratory

The following are content areas found on the CPC-H exam:

• Medical Terminology, Anatomy, Coding Guidelines, Payment Methodologies, Surgery and Modifiers, Code Assignment ICD-9-CM Vols 1 & 2, Compliance

Need help deciding which exam to take. This post outlines the differences between the CPC and CPC-H credential.

Can You Work In Medical Coding Without Being A Member Of The AAPC

A person hoping to break into the medical coding field must not be a stranger to endurance, as the studying, certification, and training process is vigorous and filled with thorough testing and evaluations. In order to become a medical coder, you have to obtain official certification that qualifies you in the field. This requirement however is not a legal requirement but is simply required by virtually every reputable recruiter.

There are two main types of certification that employers will accept: one from the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) or the other from AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association). Because both organizations are recognized and both of their certifications are respected in the medical community, it is up to you which organization you go through to obtain certification.

AAPC membership is popular among medical coders, leading prospective coders wondering if AAPC membership is necessary to break into the field. The short answer is “No.” The long answer, fortunately, is no more complicated than that.

In reality, AAPC membership is a good thing to have due to the numerous benefits. For instance, a member has access to online forum discussions and similar tools to network to other coding professionals. A member also receives exclusive discounts on conferences and coding books to keep fresh in their profession as well as job placement resources.

If you’re looking into medical coding but haven’t yet worked toward certification, becoming an AAPC member can help you acquire the tools to become certified. For instance, the organization has designed its own study and exam materials to make the process smooth and comprehensible for you.

Ultimately, there are countless methods through which to get into medical coding, and there are countless strategies and resources you can employ to help your chances at succeeding professionally. Aside from joining the AAPC or AHIMA you can always take a coding course and get a certificate from any one of the many schools offering medical coding programs. Some employers will be fine with this but many will look for the actual credential that you can only get with membership status.

AAPC membership should be considered as one of these strategies or resources rather than being regarded as the sole asset in your career but you shouldn't write membership off as unnecessary just yet.

How Long Does It Take To Get Into Medical Coding

One thing that is critical to bear in mind about the field of medical coding is that it is a field without explicit requirements in some respects. For example, on one hand certification in medical coding is not an absolute requirement to work in the field; on the other hand, you cannot reasonably expect to be employed without it. In addition, continuing education is not an absolute requirement, but you cannot reasonably expect to stay employed without it.

If you are not already sensing a theme, it is that medical coding is a field without absolutes. A rigid plan of action carved into a stone calendar, therefore, is the wrong approach. In order to successfully get into medical coding, you have to figure out how to gauge your time commitment based on your circumstances.

For example, a person with an undergraduate degree in biology with a medical focus can expect to take less time preparing for CPC certification because he or she is already familiar with human anatomy and medical theory/terminology.

You might be thinking, “Alright, cut the nonsense. Really, how long does it take to get into medical coding?” Assuming you go through the typical steps, here is a timeline for the average medical coder:

• Choosing a certification program – as long as needed. Common certifications include the CPC and the CPC-H. Here is a comparison of the two.
• Taking medical coding courses – 45 days to 3 years. Online courses can be completed within several months, whereas vocational programs at universities can take as long as several years. In all actuality these courses are not exactly nessesary but most people need them to learn enough to actually get certified. See this post for more info.
• Obtaining certification – as long as needed. If you take a 2- or 3-year program at a college or university, doing so earns you a certificate and degree (which are valuable) but doesn't actually certify you. While certification from the AAPC or AHIMA is preferred by employers, a certificate from your program is a fine asset. If you seek certification, however, you will need to allow time to apply for AAPC or AHIMA membership and exam preparation. Taking the exam isn't long, just five hours and forty minutes but preparing for the exam takes some time depending on how much preparation you want to put into it. This post covers getting your AAPC CPC certification in short order.

Ultimately, getting into coding will take as much or as little time as you need to learn the content and be able to demonstrate it. Once you have that cert however then comes finding your first job. For some people this is hard. Check out this post on getting experience in coding for some ideas on breaking into the industry.

In Regard To Exam Prep Are CPC Certification Study Guides Necessary?

With medical coding on the rise, more and more online resources have turned up for CPC exam preparation. We have links to some of those study guides here.

The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) is one particular organization known for its diverse and effective online tools, one of which is a CPC certification study guide.

A common question Internet users ask is “In regard to exam prep, is the CPC certification study guide necessary?” Much of the time, when people ask if something is necessary, they mean to ask if they can accomplish their objective without it.

Is it possible to pass the CPC exam without the certification study guide? Yes. But is it recommended? Not at all.

Sure, organizations might recommend programs or materials in order to fool people into spending money on things they do not need, but this is not the case here. The CPC exam is the gateway to a successful and stable career in medical coding, and the certification study guide is a critical tool to help a test taker greatly improve chances of passing the exam.

The AAPC highly recommends acquiring the study guide because it blends content knowledge with test taking techniques, making the test taker more likely to pass. If the test taker’s priority is maximizing the chance of passing the CPC exam, then the certification study guide is absolutely necessary. Here’s why:

• A background in medicine and/or coding does not guarantee you will ace the content. The CPC exam draws on areas of medical coding, so general and undisciplined knowledge will do a test taker no good.
• The exam itself has a specific set of requirements, and the study guide acclimates the test taker to these requirements.
• Utilizing the certification study guide will get you “in the zone.” The exam is five hours and forty minutes to answer 150 multiple choice questions, so the more prepared you are for that sort of endurance critical thinking, the better off you will be.

In addition to using a study guide, practice tests are extremely useful in gearing up for the actual test. Some of the smartest and most experienced people out there are bad test takers and practice exams help with this. Additionally building up your medical terminology and anatomy vocabulary can help a ton. See this post on prerequisites for more on building a foundation in medical anatomy.

How Safe Is Medical Coding As A Career?

Especially following the recession in the United States, a major factor in choosing one’s career path is how “safe” it is. Career safety is composed of several circumstances, most involving job security and minimal interference in one’s personal life.

A few typical questions people ask his or herself regarding career safety include the following:

• Is my position able to stay relevant within my company or field?
• If not, does my position allow for mobility in my field in case my position is eliminated?
• How might increasing use of technology affect my work’s value?
• Can I expect normal work hours, or am I subject to late nights and extreme overtime?
• Will my job allow me the time and money to support a family?

Fortunately for persons looking into medical coding as a profession, coding is easily a safe career in regards to all the above questions. To answer them in order:

• Medical coding is an essential component to any medical center. Whether a hospital in a major metropolitan city or a small town clinic, everywhere there is a diagnosis and treatment requires medical coding.
• Although medical coding positions are not known to be eliminated, a medical center may choose to downsize or shift its coding staff. Luckily, coders have a strong background in anatomy and can transfer those skills to different or higher positions in their office.
• Increasing computer use makes the act of coding itself less time-consuming, but they cannot replace a coder because human workers must oversee computer work and repair possible errors.
• Hours are standard: the vast majority of medical coders work between 8am and 5pm Monday through Friday at an office.
• Medical coders on average earn between $30,000 and $50,000 depending on their employer and region with some coders making even more than that. Click here for more info on the salary scale.

While coders’ initial salaries don’t allow for glamorous lifestyles, the regular hours and job stability make this a suitable career path for persons looking to maintain a family. Given the state of the economy, it makes sense that so many people are getting their coding certification!


See this post for more on the requirements for getting your certification.

How A Medical Coder Save An Office Money

When coders read that saving an office money is a critical asset to their career, most coders ask how they can accomplish this. Put simply, a medical coder can save an office money by doing his or her job well.

Why is it that simple? Well, in theory a medical coder’s job is to accurately describe a patient’s diagnosis, inpatient or outpatient status (charge and billing differ between these two statuses), and treatment. If a medical coder mischaracterizes a file and causes a patient to be billed inappropriately, this can result in denied insurance or medicare payments, his or her office being audited and corrected, and perhaps even followed by a lawsuit!

Health insurance is no casual matter, as a patient’s well-being can be on the line depending on how grave his or her situation is. Therefore, improperly billing a patient’s insurance company is not likely to go unnoticed, so being accurate is critical for both the interest of avoiding lawsuit and keeping patients’ trust.

Admittedly, telling a medical coder to simply be better at his or her job isn’t necessarily the most helpful advice. Here are two specific ways to improve your accuracy on the job and help save your office money:

• Understand the information dynamic at your place of work. From whom do you get the files you work with. If you have questions about a specific patient, do you know which members of the involved medical team to contact? If not, opening direct lines of communication will help you avoid guessing and get you the right answers quickly.
• Be willing to continue your education. While you may have the certification you needed to get the job, enrolling in coursework for medical coding or general physiology can help you stay current in the field and eliminate out-dated information you might still work from.

Most importantly, coders are encouraged to keep close record of their work if they seek a higher salary, as employers are more than willing to better compensate workers who have saved them money through rigorous file work.


For further reading see this post on making a difference in an office as a coder.

What Are The ICD-9-CM Codes Used For?

As you are likely to already know, the medical industry operates on a series of codes to describe diagnoses and treatments. Just like mathematics, medicine operates as a universal system.

A patient seeing a doctor in Tennessee for chronic coughing and chest pain can be referred to someone in Nebraska with a code to follow – a number that conveys the exact problem to another doctor miles and customs away.

ICD-9-CM codes are a specific type of medical coding, and you first have to break down the name structure to understand what they’re for:

1. First of all, “ICD” stands for “International Classification of Diseases.” ICD is a publishes system of disease coding for all known diseases and factors proven to result in fatalities.
2. The number 9 refers to the revision; thus, “ICD-9” indicates that it is the ninth revision of the publication. New revisions come out when significant enough changes have been made to necessitate an entirely separate publication.
3. “CM” stands for “Clinical Modification,” which indicates that diagnosis and treatment codes have been added to the coded afflictions/circumstances of death. ICD codes only cover causes of death, whereas ICD-CM also includes treatments.

Medical coders use ICD-9-CM codes when billing insurance companies or other payers of a medical service. These codes describe everything from the medical problem that brought the patient to the hospital to the treatment’s results. 


Matching the diagnosis and treatment codes also keeps a thorough file of a hospital or practice’s activity. If the office’s integrity comes into question, a medical coder can refer back to the file with ninth revision code books in hand to make sure the file is straight.

Because this is the ninth revision in a constantly revised publication, soon its codes will be discontinued. However, until October 2013, it will continue to be used to record medical diagnoses and treatments as well as bill insurance companies and payers.

You may have further questions on revisions. If so see this post on using prior year's medical coding books.

Do You Need To Take A CPC Preparation Course before Taking The CPC Exam?

Medical coding is a complex career, meeting at a cross section of medicine, number analysis, and insurance billing. This is why breaking into the field is best treated as a thorough learning and testing process.

Like many certification processes in the medical industry, becoming a certified medical coder requires intensive examination. The exam itself has a duration of more than five hours and a blend of medical theory and coding systems. If you are looking to take the CPC exam, it is already sure to be a difficult path.

Thus, it is important to remember that taking short cuts is not the wisest way to approach medical coding certification. Do you need to take a preparation course before the exam? No, but it is strongly recommended.

Here are several critical reasons not to skip out on a preparation course:

1. According to the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), the only reason you should opt out of a preparation course is if you have strong and relevant experience or background in coding and medicine; even then, you still run the risk of having out-dated knowledge.
2. Coursework will require you to have current medical coding texts, and so will the test. Taking a preparation course will motivate you to acquire the right texts ahead of time and familiarize yourself with them.
3. If you pass the test and apply for positions in the medical coding field, it will be advantageous to have taken CPC exam preparation courses. It communicates to prospective employers that you dedicated yourself and invested in the certification process.

Ultimately, it is your decision whether or not to enroll in CPC exam preparation courses. Many test takers who opt out of preparation courses do so because they have interned with medical coders or do not wish to spend the money for courses. If you may be among such people, consider that nothing beats learning on your own accord and making the investment in your future.

Can I Use Medical Coding Books From Prior Years?

As new diagnostic and treatment procedures arise and old ones lose relevance, the medical industry has to change its coding for these things. When changes are significant enough, new revisions of official medical coding books are drafted and then released to the public.

For example, most hospitals in the United States currently use the ninth revision, despite the fact that a tenth revision has been released. Using the tenth edition, the most current year's coding books, is not mandatory until the implementation date in October 2013.

Once it is October 1, 2013, medical coders must have and use updated medical codes. Coders often ask, “Can I use medical coding books from prior years?” This is a loaded question, and the answer depends on what the definition of “use” is. Askers can mean one of two things:

1. “Can I keep old coding books around to refer to every now and then, or should I dispose of them?”
2. “If the changes aren’t all that big, can I just skip the new books and keep using my old ones?”

Can you use medical coding books from prior years in your daily practice? Absolutely not! You run the risk of using incorrect codes, compromising safety and integrity in the office at which you work. You should always be up to date with coding books, meaning that you should not only have them but be familiar with them. You may, however, keep previous years’ coding books for occasional reference. Here’s why:

Medical coding revolves around files: a coder evaluates a file for the case’s diagnosis and procedure, putting codes together to bill insurance companies for services rendered. Like any job revolving around files, sometimes the matter resurfaces. You might put away a file from 2009, but an error or complaint could spring up years later. Having coding books from the case’s year would help in understanding the case in its proper context.

Does this mean you should have fifth revision on your desk in 2013? Not a chance.

Click through for a list of direct links to the most current medical coding books available.

Medical Coding 101 - Beginner FAQs

If you are new to the medical coding profession you probably have lots of questions. The medical coding (and billing) field is a very important part of the medical industry and good coders are in great demand. Medical coders make good money, the barrier to entry is not that high, and good coders can make a big difference to their employers making them an indispensable part of the team.

Below are a series of articles geared for beginners. Please read through these articles as they will help introduce you to the process of becoming a medical coder.

**And if you are interested in getting into medical coding make sure to download my quick-start guide. You can learn more about it here.**

The Basics

What Is A Medical Coding Job Description?
What Do Medical Coders Do All Day?
How Much Do Medical Coders Make?
Do You Have To Be Certified To Work As A Medical Coder?

Education Requirements

Do You Have To Go To College To Be A Medical Coder?
What Classes Should I Take Before Going Into Medical Coding?

What’s The Difference Between The CPC And The CPC-P Coding Certifications

Based from the latest information, American Academy of Professional Coders or the AAPC has already certified about 70,000 professionals under the health information management field. In addition to this, there are different coding certifications available nowadays such as CPC and CPC-P. Perhaps, you want to know the difference between these two certifications.

When you encountered CPC or Certified Professional Coder certification, this gives opportunity for professionals to work in office setting. Moreover, having this kind of certification means that you have sound knowledge when it comes to languages like HCPCS Level Ii and CPT. In addition to that, this certification indicates that you also have knowledge about ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes.

On the other hand, Certified Professional Coder - Payer or the CPC-P certification means that you have expertise in reimbursement methodologies applicable in great medical coverage and settings. In addition to that, this also indicates that you have skills needed in reviewing payment systems and other related matters. Examples of these are HIPAA compliance regulations and rules as well as health insurance concepts.

These are some of the differences between CPC and CPC-P coding certifications. Though there are differences when it comes to these certifications, both play a very important role in terms of making information relay in a department a lot efficient and organized. As mentioned, there are also other certifications that you can find out there such as the CPC-A or apprenticeship designation or the more advanced CPC-H designation.

Additionally there are many specialty certifications that you can attain which focus in on different fields in medicine. These special certifications give you more appeal to employers dealing with certain types of medical scenarios versus the whole gambit. This post covers many of the popular subspecialty coder certifications you can get to stack on top of your CPC or CPC-P credential.

It is best for you to learn more information about those certifications by means of conducting your own research and even asking questions from people currently employed in these fields.

What’s The Difference Between The CPC And The CPC-A

According to the information released by the American Academy of Professional Coders or the AAPC, there are about 70,000 certified health care professionals in the information areas. In addition to that, there are different certifications available for you to choose from. One of the most popular options for you are CPC and CPC-A. In connection with this, you have to know the difference between the two if you are planning to enter in a medical coding field.

CPC means Certified Professional Coder Certification. This allows you to work in clinical settings along with physicians. Aside from that, obtaining this certification also means that you have utmost knowledge when it comes to coding languages like ICD-9-CM, HCPCS Level II as well as CPT. All of these are being used in terms of dealing with billing insurance companies. In addition to that, having certification like this means that you passed the examination and you already secured your experience or apprenticeship.

On the other hand, when the term CPC-A is used, this refers to refer apprentice status. This implies that you have already passed CPC examination, but you still need a minimum of two years of experience. Most coders pass the certification exam or the CPC exam but then build experience as a CPC-A before satisfying the experience requirements of the full CPC designation.

In the event that you are troubled with these two certifications, this information will surely help you a lot in the future. It is also important that when you plan to obtain other certifications, you should understand pertinent and basic information about them. In this regard, researching in the internet will surely help you a lot.

On this site I recommend taking a look at the differences between the CPC and the CPC-H, which is often a popular advanced certification that many professional coders go for. It build knowledge and experience in a more advanced way.

Is It Hard To Become A Medical Coder

Being a medical coder is one of the most promising professionals nowadays. But despite its promising income generation aspects, many people are asking if it is especially hard to become a medical coder.

The answer is no.

It is not hard at all if you are planning to become a medical coder. There are so many online courses that you can engage in. In fact, these courses can be finished in just a matter of two months. Usually, the amount you need to spend for this course is negligible as well. Of course the more money and time you put into it the better your job prospects will be but it is possible to get going in the profession quickly.

It is important that you pick the most reliable administrator of the course so that you will get valuable information about the course they offer. There are a number of schools with online medical coding programs in various price ranges. Just remember that you will likely have to get certified no matter which program you choose.

Keep in mind that it would be very hard for you to succeed in any career when you are not prepared for it. That is why while you plan to enter into the medical coder profession it is important that you conduct proper research up front. There are so many sites online that will provide you with the valuable information you are looking for. We hope you’ll find what you need here.

Overall, becoming a medical coder is just very simple. The course you need to take can be finished in a very short span of time only. Once you finished the course and secured the other requirements in becoming a medical coder, there are greener pastures that will open along the way. So begin molding your dream career now so that you can already practice your profession as soon as you finish your course!

If you are looking to get into medical coding then please see this post on the requirements for getting your CPC certification. Most employers will be looking for people certified or in the process of getting certified.

How to Get Experience In Medical Coding – Try Finding An Internship

Before you can assume a work as a medical coder, there are certain requirements that you need to secure first. One of the most important requirements you need (other than obtaining your CPC certification) is your experience in medical coding.

One of the best ways for you to have experience is through undergoing an internship also known sometimes as an externship.

Usually, there are some colleges and programs out there that already incorporate an internship in their practicum. This means that their students will be given the chance to work offsite especially in approved clinics or hospitals. Usually, you are required to attend your internship about 8 up to 16 weeks based from the curriculum offered in your school.

Once you are already complete with your experience, you are now prepared to take your certification examination. You don’t need to do it in this order but the internship will help you land a CPC-A employed position afterwards which will help you get the added experience necessary to earn the full CPC designation. See this post for more on the differences between the CPC-A and the CPC.

But what do you have to do when internship program is not offered in your school? The answer is to volunteer. There is no legal requirement to be certified by the AAPC before you work so volunteering in the field of medical coding may make landing your first employed position after taking the CPC exam a bit easier.

There are many institutions that will allow you to apply as a volunteer. By means of this, you can already secure the experience that you need. See to it that you apply for volunteer position in trusted and in reliable companies.

Now that you already know the information on how to have experience in medical billing, you can already have a secured feature. Just see to it that you give your best shot during your internship so that it would be possible for you to know in depth skills and knowledge under medical coding. Then make sure to make a difference in the workplace. It will help your career as well as the financial health of your employer.

How Can Medical Coders Make A Difference In A Department

Medical coders play a vital role when it comes to the health industry. One of the primary jobs of a medical coder is to review the health records of patients and the information provided by their doctors to determine the patient's diagnosis and treatment procedures. In addition to that, they are also given the task to provide numerical billing codes to the patients. See this post for more on what a medical coder is and does.

So how can medical coders create a positive difference in a department?

Good medical coders will ensure that patients are properly categorized with the treatment and services they receive. They assist every member of the health care team to provide organized and systematic health care services to their customers. They also ensure that proper relay of information in a department is at its best. This reduces the chance of medication errors and mistakes in the future.

Without a doubt however coders can make a huge difference in their department by saving their employer money.

Because the quantity of medical codes that are so overwhelming and because many insurance companies will pay for certain things but not others a coder can prove their net worth by saving the department money, decreasing write-offs, and increasing collections. You have to prove that you are the cause of these improvements however. You can do this with proper documentation over time.

By getting the codes right even through nuance of similar medical procedures a coder can save a practice more money. This in turn makes the coder more valuable and can provide ample justification for increased compensation. No doubt that those top tier medical coders are essential in a professional working environment.

No doubt that being a good medical coder will create a big difference in the working field. Even if it seems that being a medical coder is a challenge for you, a department will not function properly without their help. If you plan to become a medical coder someday, there are so many high quality programs out there that you can take advantage of. Those programs are offered online so you can already have access to it.

Do You Have To Have Your CPC Before You Get Your CPC-H?

Medical coding is one of the most promising fields of expertise at this very moment because of the fact that it is highly profitable. The reason is that this field of expertise can already provide an individual with high compensation unlike when they try other fields of expertise.

The thing is that there are lots of credentials to choose from.

Coders with CPC-H credentials typically make more money. As a result many people entering the profession rightly want to know if they need to have their CPC credential first before they can get their CPC-H. This post outlines the main differences between the CPC and the CPC-H.

Keep in mind that the certification comes with leveling format. This means that you have to begin in the lower certification in order for you to obtain the higher kind of certification. So in this case, you are advised first to obtain your CPC before you can get your CPC-H.

Once you have successfully obtained your CPC-H, you are already allowed to work in hospitals and other outpatient work settings, but now you command greater expertise and salary in addition to taking on additional responsibility.

Before getting your hospital specialty certification there is a need for you to undergo a proper certification examination first. You can also have access to current medical coding books that will provide you higher chances of passing the advanced certification examination on your first try. Of course make sure to take some practice tests before taking the real thing.

So in case you plan to secure your CPC-H in the future, you already know that it is important for you to have your CPC first. See this page for more on getting your CPC in short order.

By making use of some review services online, it should be very easy for you to pass the certification examination concerned. Make sure that you also do your part to prove them that you are deserving of your CPC-H. As early as now, it is advised that you begin doing your homework.

See this post for more on things you can do to make a difference in the workplace as a medical coder.

Do I Have To Use The Most Current Year's Medical Coding Code Books

Medical coding requires a lot of preparation and knowledge about the field. There are so many codes that you have to memorize in order for you to deliver the best service that your customers need. One of the best ways for you to know these codes is to use your medical coding code reference books. In every specialty under the medical coding field, there are several books that you have to utilize.

In case you are wondering if you have to utilize the present year's medical coding books, obviously, the answer is yes. These books contain the updated medical coding codes that you need to know.

Always remember that the field of education including all aspects of learning constantly evolves from time to time. That is why some information on your previous books might be different from the exact information presented these days.

There are couples of books that you can utilize these days. One of which is the HCPCS. This book is used in order to identify some products, services and supplies. ICD-9 contains the codes that are used in the field of diagnostics. On the other hand, the CPT contains the codes related to procedures and treatments offered to patients.

So in order for you to know more about this profession it is important that you use the most current medical coding code books offered.

You can secure your copy by means of inquiring directly to the book stores present in your locality. You can also get these books online if you want.

Click through for a list of direct links to the most current medical coding books available.