Coding schools

Coding [2008-11-06]
Oh great, more confusion to look forward to eh? Actually, I am working part time in coding and I am able to “train” on my time on harder charts that are already done, see how I do, then compare to what is coded. I love orthopedics, but the things I cannot find are because the docs call it one thing, and it is listed in the book as something else. For instance, cubital tunnel release. Yes, yes, I research heavily to find the cubital tunnel, and the operation, but I can’t seem to pull the trigger on the correct answer in actuality. I know the answers are all there.

Redpen, do you teach coding anywhere? [2008-11-05]
Thanks.

Coding is [2008-11-03]
I like coding because it It is truly a rare bird that calls coding straightforward and clear! It is straightforward and clear to you. I doubt there are many very experienced coders who would use those words to describe coding. You are a rare bird.

I am learning coding, it is very difficult and [2008-11-01]
I am not sure I like it, in fact I hate it some days. I canI love coding so far. I do see people saying that! If you love coding, why? I can't see it from here.

Why I like coding [2008-11-01]
[quote]I am not sure I like it, in fact I hate it some days. I canI love coding so far. I do see people saying that! If you love coding, why? I can't see it from here. [/quote] I like coding because it's very straightforward and clear. I enjoy reading medical documentation and figuring out what diagnoses should be coded. I also enjoy reading operative reports and figuring out what exactly they did so that I can code it. You say you can't find the answers sometimes. I know it sounds weird to say this, but the answers are all there. If you can't find them, you're probably not looking for them the right way. You might have the wrong concept of what to do or the wrong expectations. That's not meant to diminish your feelings or make you feel bad, but to point out that you might not have been shown how to do this correctly. What are you studying now and in what setting? What book? CPT? ICD-9-CM? Commercial course? Online college course? Trying to teach yourself? Do you have an instructor? Is the instructor a certified coder? What do they say about this? If this is a college course, my guess is that you're trying to make heads or tails of course materials and trying to get a computer program to accept your answers. It probably seems like a random guess process to you. If so, that could be your problem. It might not be YOU, but the fact that you can't figure out what to do because you aren't getting any reliable feedback from the computer or the instructor who can't code! If you're learning ICD-9 diagnosis coding right now, there is a certain process to use that will enable you to find the right code. It's not torturous, but it can involve cross-referencing. However, if you keep track of what you're looking at (write it all down) you can keep it straight. The more of it you do, the easier it becomes and the less you'll have to write down. You have to develop your skill with regards to this. It's exactly like learning to ride a bicycle.

Coding certifications [2008-10-22]
It is getting so that you really will want a certification to enhance your chances of getting a best-paid job. Employers are looking more toward certifications, since using certified coders helps them ensure accuracy, reduce training costs, and demonstrate that they did everything they could to ensure compliance with standards. Which certification you would want will depend on the type of coding you wish to pursue. Right now, there are fewer inpatient coding jobs (understandably) than outpatient. That's going to affect your choice. The AAPC CPC certification is primarily for outpatient coding, so that's a good place to start if you want to do outpatient coding. If you want to do inpatient coding, then you'd go for an AHIMA CCS. That's another good place to start. The AAPC CCPC-H and AHIMA CCS-P can be added on, as well. The best plan is to get one from each organization. That way, you're covered no matter whether the prospective employer is more familiar with AHIMA or AAPC credentials. If you're leaning toward hospital or medical center coding, an AHIMA certification will help. For outpatient clinic settings, AAPC certifications are far more common.

Where can you find Medical coding/billing jobs online? [2008-10-22]
I will be graduating with a diploma for Medical Billing and Coding at the end of next month. I was so excited until I found out how hard it is to find online jobs! My current family situation will not allow for me to be able to work away from the home so if I can't find something online then I would have just racked up $25,000 in student loans for nothing. I would appreciate any feed back!! Thanks so Much!

I'm currently taking a diploma course for medical coding and billing... Here are the books I am u [2008-10-22]
Step-By-Step Medical Coding by Carol J. Buck Step-By-Step Medical Coding Workbook by Carol J. Buck Insurance Handbook for the Medical Office by Marilyn T. Fordney Insurance Handbook for the Medical Office Student Workbook by Marilyn T. Fordney The Language of Medicine by Davi-Ellen Chabner Quick Guide to HIPAA for the Physician's Office Mosby's Medical, Nursing, & Allied Health Dictionary by Elsevier Mosby CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) by AMA (American Medical Association) ICD 9 CM (I believe the ICD 10 has come out but I haven't gotten that one yet) ICD 9 CM stands for International Classification of Diseases 9th revision Clinical Modification by PMIC HCPCS ( Health Care Procedure Coding System) National Level II Medicare Codes by PMIC Like I said I am currently enrolled in a colege course for medical billing/coding, and will be recieving a diploma and these are all the books I have needed (for the coding part, I have also had anatomy, pycology, and several other regular courses, but the above books are all I needed for the coding parts) I hope this info helps! I wish I knew you didn't have to go to school for it, I would have saved $2500o, well minus the prices for the books. From what I have been reading recently all you need to do is be able to pass the certification test, so you should be able to teach your self with these books!

Coding test [2008-10-21]
I stopped coding about 6 years ago when I came home to work and before that, I was doing inpatient and clinic coding which is what the test will consist of, mainly inpatient. The only thing she told me about the test is that I will be given a few charts and will have to code them so I am hoping it will all come back to me.

coding review [2008-10-21]
Get yourself a copy of the Official Coding Guidelines and study those. Google official coding guidelines. The new ones have an effective date of 10/1/2008. Really study those well. All the rules are right there.

Coding test [2008-10-21]
Thanks for the suggestion, found them, will study hard, and go see if coding is like riding a bike...

Coding test for job... [2008-10-20]
Open question, I have been transcribing for 14 years, have 6 years experience in coding but not recent. I have an opportunity for a coding position which requires testing, any tips from current coders on how to do well on this test? TIA for any help.

if you REALLY want to teach yourself coding [2008-10-07]
Start out with Faye Brown's ICD-9-CM Coding Handbook. It is a definitive learning tool and can be purchased on the AHIMA website, www.AHIMA.org. Then get yourself a copy of the Official Coding Guidelines (they might be included in the book, not sure). The Guidelines were just updated and are effective 10/1/2008. AHIMA will be a good starting place for study materials. A review guide is not the place to start because it is what it says, a review guide, which assumes you already know how to code. AHIMA has the basic books to learn both ICD and CPT coding. You will need to learn both. I am a coder in a large level 1 trauma center and teaching hospital in the midwest. Around here, you can get a job with a CCA but for outpatient coding only. You do need a CCS for inpatient coding, Most hospitals here prefer AHIMA credentials over AAPC.

Starting out in Coding or billing [2008-10-06]
Hi, I've been an MT for about 8 years but would like to learn medical billing and coding procedures. I plan on teaching myself as much as possible (and asking people that I know who are professional coders questions) and then taking the 4 day boot camp & take the CPC-A (apprentice) exam. What would you ladies suggest I start with? A CPC study guide? I am about 90% sure I can obtain a job in my hospital once I actually have a certification. Thank you so much in advance! By the way, I already have med term., a&p I and II w/ labs, and have an extensive knowledge about anatomy. The thing I need brushing up on are meds/surgical instruments, etc... Thanks again for your help!!

They are NOT the only two schools!!!! [2008-09-30]
If you believe Rasmussen and DeVry are the only 2 colleges with online coding courses where you are eligible for the RHIT exam, you were misled. You do not need an RHIT to code. At most colleges, all the courses that are required for a coding certificate are also part of the RHIT degree program. When you finish them, you get a coding certificate, but you can continue on to get an RHIT. All the courses you took will apply. They are not the only online programs, either. The AHIMA website lists lots of them. All RHIT programs, and consequently coding certificate programs, are exactly the same--AHIMA requires them to teach the same material. What they are is far, far MORE EXPENSIVE than a coding certificate or RHIT program at a community college. You got suckered into attending twice as long as you need to and paying big bucks to do it because you were misled into thinking they were the only programs available online. San Juan Collge in Farmington, New Mexico, has a good RHIT and coding certificate program around, and it's only $40 a credit hour if you're from out of state. There aren't any extra fees, either. You can do that whole RHIT for about $2560.

E-learning training for billing coding and transcribing [2008-09-26]
I work for the number one E-learning provider in the world. We have been providing students with training since 1991. We offer the cca exam training for coding the cmcp exam training for billing and the RMT and CMT training for transcribers. I would love to work with anyone seeking a great cost effective option to achieve their objectives. We will not be the cheapest choice. We will be a fraction of the cost of a regular school though. Please call me robert guess 1-800-653-4933 ext 3175 mon-fri 9-6 est time zone for details. Thank you. We train in a see it do it test it environment allowing you to learn the material at your own pace and supplying you an environment conducive to learning the material and knowledge needed to one pass the exams but allowing you to practice in the environments (a type of flight simulation) which you will see in the real world.

Is it important that a coding school offer ICD-10 [2008-09-26]
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Good online medical coding school [2008-09-21]
I would like to know if anyone could recommend a good medical coding school and how is the outlook for medical coding? Will these jobs eventually be outsourced to India? Any info would help.

Outlook for coding [2008-09-21]
The outlook for coding is very good. There is an increasing need for coders, due to the type of reimbursement system used in the United States and an ageing population which requires more medical care, among other things. There are already a huge number of coding positions going unfilled due to a shortage of coders. Within the next several years, the United States will likely be switching to a more complex coding system. It is expected that many older coders will choose to retire and less competent coders will seek other work rather than try to make the switch. It is thought that a huge number of jobs will open up just prior to the changeover to ICD-10. Large-scale outsourcing the jobs to India is unlikely. There has been an actual decrease in interest in this, with some of the federal sector healthcare entities banning offshoring entirely. It is expected that the private sector will follow. Unlike some other jobs, there is a high need for control of the coding and reimbursement process. Coding has a critical effect on reimbursement, with errors resulting in lost income and the potential for huge fines and criminal sanctions. Offshore workers cannot be held liable for this, which has served to squelch interest in offshoring. Recent developments in privacy and security requirements (HIPAA), with the threat of medical identity theft, are cooling interest in offshoring, as well. As an occupation, coding offers good potential for advancement. Even if it becomes possible to assign codes via software, the higher level jobs will still be necessary and available. Coders will move easily into other roles.

I want to switch from MT to coding, where are the jobs posted? [2008-09-18]
I have been a Transcriptionist for 12 years and want to do something else. Where do you find the job postings to apply for these jobs?

home coding [2008-09-13]
I can't speak to billing, but there is an abundance of home coding jobs. Do you have any credential? without credentials, you would not be able to get one of the home coding jobs. With a credential, the market is wide open. Try reading Advance for HIM or the Journal of AHIMA. Advance is a free publication and you and you get on electronic transmission for this one. The Journal you would have to subscribe but might find at the library. There is another free one but I can't remember the name, think it's something with Forward. Anyway, they all have classifieds and you would find many, many coding opportunities. I work for a company based in Florida, live in Wisconsin, and have done home coding for them for 6 years, but i know they will not hire without a credential.

Are there any at home coding jobs?? [2008-09-08]
Hi everyone! About 5 years ago I completed some courses through my local college for medical coding/billing and transcription. I liked the billing much better and did that for a busy family practice for 5 years. For the past 2 years I've been home with my kids. I would really like to work but with the rising price of gas it would not pay for me to get an outside job. I live out in the country and the closest doctors office or hospital is 35 miles away. Are there companies that offer a home based billing opportunity? Thanks! Amanda

Re: coding jobs [2008-08-31]
It can be hard to get a coding job right out of school, and I am always telling people I know with the same question; if you I have known people to work their way in by doing this. I did it myself over a year and a half ago, and I am now the clinic division Billing coordinator for a hospital system. Also, let your schooling intentions be known to those you are applying to.Get all the practice you can with coding, from practice workbooks. There are quite a few available from Ahima, AAPC websites bookstores, Borders online, etc... You need to know what you and once you have one of those, getting a job should be easier. But, the exam is not easy! So again, practice, practice, practice.

CCS and schools [2008-08-29]
Why do you want to take the CCS exam? It's for inpatient coding. Those jobs are usually in-house. If you're a SAHM, I can see that you need a distance learning program, but if you are going to keep being a SAHM, coding probably isn't a good choice for you now. Coding jobs in general require some on-site time before you can begin working at home. It's difficult to find at-home coding jobs without experience, although there are more at-home jobs coming available now. Andrews teaches a coding program. It takes about a year. Their grads have been successful with both the CPC and the CCS right out of school. The program teaches to a higher level than programs that just aim for the CCA. They have grads working in good jobs and advancing, too.

Coding Jobs [2008-08-25]
I What are the chances of getting a work-at-home coding job? I am currently working as an MT from home, and the company I work for seems todo coding, but it really isn

Andrews & MTec [2008-10-16]
These schools have billing and coding are they any good?

You made a good [2008-10-12]
Salaries are better in coding than other HIM areas until you get to the RHIA level. With coding training, you can get a job and begin earning the higher salary, then do the RHIT and RHIA at low-cost state schools. RHIAs make the most, but there aren't as many jobs. Coders have high salaries and lots of job choices. RHITs are beginning to be pushed to the bottom of the heap. Their only way out is pretty much through coding. AHIMA is working on requiring a masters degree for an RHIA, so if the RHIA is a direction you want to go in, best go now while you can still achieve it.

Watch out w/ Devry and Rasmussen [2008-10-08]
I started both programs and transferred out of both because of the lack of coding classes - found other schools w/ more in coding. After realizing I wanted to exclusively do codingI also realized it was silly for me to spend so much on an RHIT program. Oh, and RHIT program will allow you to sit for the RHIT exam. RHIA exam requires a 4yr degree.

ICD-10 is not being taught now [2008-09-26]
The U.S. is still using ICD-9 and implementation of ICD-10 is constantly being pushed back and back (thank goodness!). You will need thorough knowledge of anatomy and physiology and also need to really know and understand disease processes. Of course, the ICD and CPT classes and reimbursement systems, for POA, DRG, APCs and chargemaster. ICD-10 will be much more in depth so the knowledge of A&P and disease process will be even more important. You will also need some pharmacology (need to know what drugs are used for what diseases/conditions) but also need to how those drugs work, their method of action. Biggest deficit we see in our new coders is understanding of disease processes and the pharmacology. Since one of the guidelines in coding is not to code symptoms that are integral to the disease, this is really important to understand. Also, in the coding classes you want to get to really know and understand the Official Coding Guidelines. We have schools in our area that actually don't teach them. I can't figure out how that works because you can't be a coder without knowing them!

A Career as a Medical Transcriptionist [2008-09-09]
You’ve very likely heard of someone who is making a good living as a medical transcriptionist. He or she might even be working from the comfort of their home. And you’ve probably asked yourself if this might be a career option for you. It may well be. Let’s take a look at the facts. What exactly is medical transcription? In the course of their work, doctors and other healthcare professionals make dictated recordings of various things including physical examination observations, patient history, operative reports, referral letters, discharge summaries, observations regarding imaging data and so on. A medical Transcriptionist listens to these recordings and transcribes them into medical reports, correspondence, etc. She listens to a segment of recording, pauses the playback and keys in what is said before moving on to the next segment. She may do some editing for better grammar and clarity. The transcribed document is sent back to the health care provider who then reviews it for accuracy and gets it signed. These documents become part of the patient’s medical history records and perhaps insurance records. Many distance education programs, colleges and vocational schools offer post-secondary training in medical transcription. Having a degree is not essential. With a home-study course, you can usually pick up the necessary knowledge within a year, often in less than nine months. You can find work in hospitals, laboratories, physician’s offices, firms offering transcription services, government medical facilities and so on. Working from home is also a possibility and many employers offer work-at-home options for transcriptionists. Apart from that, many individuals work as independent contractors. What equipment would you need, if you wanted to do medical transcription at home? Not very much -- a computer with a medical spellchecker, printer, a transcriber and reference books are about all you need. To help you save on the actual typing, a word Expander utility might help. If you are on a tight budget, buy second hand equipment will do just as well. Medical transcription work does call for certain skills and mindset. Apart from basic computer skills, you must be detail oriented. If detail work bores you to tears, this might not be the career for you. You must know typing, although speed will come with practice. You should also have excellent listening skills and grammar skills. If you’re planning to work from home, it is essential to be comfortable with working alone and meeting deadlines. You must be a self-starter who can work consistently without being driven by a boss. For More Visit our sites With Best Regards Linda

It pays to read the fine print! (SM) [2008-09-09]
Gosh, I saw this and thought Oh, look! Linda Andrews posted! When I read the post, though, it just didn't sound like Linda. For a moment, I considered that her household appliances had taken over and one of her Roomba vacuums was impersonating her. Perplexed, I clicked the link to see where it led, half expecting it to go to irobot.com. Much to my surprise, it turned out to be a website with ads for coding/billing schools. And they weren't ours. Now I was REALLY concerned! Turns out I didn't pay close attention to the fine print. The post is by an ANDERSON, not an Andrews. Sigh.

B & C Schools [2008-07-30]
What are the best B Cschools online? I was thinking about US Career Inst. but got a bad comment on it. Any recomendations

What's the top coding schools? [2008-05-21]
I I was wondering which online schools were reputable.

meditech vs career step [2007-11-05]
Which of these seem to be better. I would like to pursue coding and billing opportunities. I currently am a Transcriptionist and interested in cross training. Which schools are better equiped to help pass the exam? I checked out both but need some help in determining which one is better. Please any advice would be appreciated. Thank you...

Andrews [2007-10-08]
Well, yes, actually I have looked at that one as well. Just wondering what is the best one out there. I guess Andrews appeared to be more focused on just coding, and Meditec seemed to cover the billing aspects as well, health insurance. I would like to have an understanding of it all if possible, which is why theirs stuck out to me. I would not object to taking coding and billing from 2 different schools, just still trying to figure out which one(s) is/are the best and looking for some one who has been through it to comment on which one(s) they think is/are the best and why?? Thanks for you replay. Much appreciated.

Meditec on-line program [2007-10-06]
Can anyone offer any information about the program offered by Meditec on-line for billing and coding. I have looked through a ton of programs and this program seems like it would be a little more thorough as far as the subjects and amount of reports to code, plus they seem to touch on the billing aspect, insurance, etc. I have been to the AHIMA board and looked at all the schools listed on their site; however, they do not endorse any particular school, as such, not really helping anyone makea decision as to any good school to go to. Also, in looking at their programs, they do not really seem to offer any more in the way of subjects that they touch on and, in fact, seem to offer a little less to me than the distance program called Meditec. This one seems to touch on some software programs out there as well which I think should be included in one Also, from what I am gathering, it does not seem as though the AHIMA cares where you get your education, just that you get a good enough one to pass their exam. I do wonder, however, at the same time if any employers look at where one gets their schooling or if they too are more interested in the credentials and that you have them, period. I did ask one employer if they looked at the schooling behind the credentials and she said that, no they did not really critique the schooling, they were more interested in the fact that they have the proper credentials and experience. While there seems to be a ton of schools offering these courses, there seems to be a lack of information from anyone person/organization as to what is the best course offered, leaving one to sort of guess and well hope they hit the right one. I also seem to find that, for the most part, the ones willing to comment are usually the ones who only have something negative to say about the business/field, programs,etc. Again, making it hard to make a good decision as to where to go. Then there are the companies all trying to push their program and telling you they are theONE to go to, only I know that they will all tell you that in order to sell their program. After all, that is THEIR business. And well, maybe they really do feel that their program is the best. Unfortunately, I know that there has to be some solid answers out there from someone, someone who has been there/done that successfully. Would you please share some info with me. If you don I am a successful working medical Transcriptionist right now and would like to venture into coding, billing, office management, and maybe HIM as well. I do not have unrealistic expectations of having to work from home, making a ton of money at this. Just want to further my education for the knowledge, and yes make a decent honest living at it. Yes, I know it is hard work getting there. I did a transcription course through M-Tec, was challenging, I have worked my 12 hour + daysat my first transcription job, been in tears thinking I was never going to get my line count. Seemed to get it finally by the end of the day somehow, and now I am making my line count and then some. I am doing fine at it and have been successful for 4 years so far doing it. I still like it.I am not a complainer on the MT Stars board bashing companies, because I feel for every company that I worked at that was not my favorite for one reason or another, I was stilllearning and geting some type ofexperience, no matter what. One has to take those chances and go through thosesort of lifeto learn as well. So I am sure that medical coding/billing is no exception to the rule and know what I am in for before I go into it. Just looking for some advice to go in the right direction on the schooling!! Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share.

Coding [2007-02-05]
Does DeVry offer tutition payments or must you pay up front fully? I am doing a search on schools. I also ordered Step-By-Step Workbook to start with. Thanks for any information.

medical billing field [2006-07-16]
Hi, I have been doing medical billng since 1986. This was back before electronic filing and when computers were just becoming popular in this field. I used to type on a selectric II over 100 1500 claims per day. Now since the age of technology medical billing hasbecome much better to do. I did not have formal training. There weren't medical billing schools in those days; at least not the way you seethem everywhere now. I do not think there are many employers who will hire someone to do billing at home. But you can work from home if you know what to do.First you would have to set up your own service, market your services and get the contract with the doctor. The key is to not let the doctor know you are working from home. There's a website called universalclass.com that has lots of medical billing courses and a couple of courses on starting your own business. Start there; but the only way to work from home doing billing, in my opinion is to start your own service. It is possible and people are doing it. I also have my own service; I only market to doctors withold A/R. There are so many types of service you can offer doctors such as: Accounts receivable recovery insurance verifications patient billing and collections billing only (data entry) electronic claims filing Credentialling................etc. The medical billing field is wide open for qualified people, just as MTs hope this help