(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({
google_ad_client: “ca-pub-0859704827420021″,
enable_page_level_ads: true
});
[mp_row]
[mp_span col=”12”]
[mp_heading]
Different types of medical coding and billing credentials:
[/mp_heading]
[/mp_span]
[/mp_row]
[mp_row]
[mp_span col=”12″]
[mp_code]
[widgets_on_pages id=”adsense”]
[/mp_code]
[/mp_span]
[/mp_row]
[mp_row]
[mp_span col=”12″]
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) are the two most well-known national organizations that offer certifications for medical coding and billing. Here is a list of coding credentials that they offer.
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
The AHIMA offers a variety of certifications to the health information management (HIM) and coders. The first 3 are the more popular credentials when starting out as a coder:
CCA – Certified Coding Associate
The CCA is the entry-level classification for graduates of medical coding schools who are beginning their career.
CCS – Certified Coding Specialist
The CCS credential denotes a high standard of proficiency in coding beyond the entry level certification.
CCS-P – Certified Coding Specialist, Physician-based
The CCS-P is a medical coder who is certified to work in a physician-based environment such as physicians’ offices, clinics, specialty centers or other similar settings.
SCP – Specialty Coding Professional
Need at least two years of coding experience to be eligible.
ACS- Advanced Coding Specialist
Need 3-5 years of experience to be eligible.
RHIA – Registered Health Information Administrator
RHIT – Registered Health Information Technician
CHDA – Certified Health Data Analyst
CHPS – Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
The AAPC offers medical coding certification in different areas as shown below. They also offer specialty coding certification in 22 different medical specializations.
CPC – Certified Professional Coder
A Certified Professional Coder® (CPC®) is an individual of high professional integrity who has passed a coding certification examination consisting of questions regarding the correct application of CPT, and are used for billing professional medical services to insurance companies. A CPC® must have two years coding experience, maintain a yearly membership, and submit Continuing Education Units (CEUs) every two years.
CPC-H – Certified Professional Coder, Outpatient Hospital
A Certified Professional Coder-Hospital (CPC-H®) must pass a coding certification examination sponsored by the American Academy of Professional Coders.The examination consists of questions regarding the correct application of CPT®, ICD-9-CM diagnoses and procedure codes used for billing facility services to insurance companies. A CPC-H® must have at least two years coding experience and maintain yearly renewal and CEU requirements.
CPC-P – Certified Professional Coder, Payer
The Certified Professional Coder-Payer (CPC-P) credential certifies that the successful candidate has knowledge and skills to adjudicate provider claims effectively. The CPC-P demonstrates the payer coder’s aptitude, proficiency and knowledge within the payer environment. Their coding is viewed by claims reviewers, utilization management staff, benefits staff, provider relations and customer service staff. A CPC-P must have at least 2 years coding work experience that includes working with CPT, ICD-9-CM, or HCPCS code sets and must maintain the required amount of yearly CEUs.
CIRCC – Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder
CPMA – Certified Professional Auditor
AAPC Specialties:
Ambulatory Surgical Center – CASCC™
Anesthesia and Pain Management – CANPC™
Cardiology – CCC™
Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery – CCVTC™
Chiropractic – CCPC™
Dermatology – CPCD™
Emergency Department – CEDC™
Evaluation and Management – CEMC™
Family Practice – CFPC™
Gastroenterology – CGIC™
General Surgery – CGSC™
Hematology and Oncology – CHONC™
Internal Medicine – CIMC™
Interventional Radiology and Cardiovascular – CIRCC®
Obstetrics Gynecology – COBGC™
Orthopedic Surgery – COSC™
Otolaryngology – CENTC™
Pediatrics – CPEDC™
Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery – CPRC™
Rheumatology – CRHC™
Surgical Foot & Ankle – CSFAC™
Urology – CUC™
[widgets_on_pages id=”adsense”]
[/mp_span]
[/mp_row]