Meditec on line program

which program for study, for ccs [2008-08-29]
If i wanted to get a job, that would enable me to sit for the CCS, what schooling would prepare me for that? There are so many, especially online (im a sahm, so i really can only go to classes at night or weekends) that i dont know which to choose. I found one, but it was going to be 40k for a 2 year degree. That is just too much for an associates, in my opinion. Is there anyone that took some courses and is actually working now? what course did you take? TIA

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.

What is a good Coding program? [2006-09-18]
I would like to study from home/online. What are the best programs out there, that employers recognize/respect. I saw a program from Brighton College (which is home based) that was Medical Transcription and Coding, all in one. Is this legit? Or too good to be true? Any assistance with this would be great. Thanks!

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.

Redpen, mind answering a couple of questions? [2008-10-31]
What is a realistic expectation of pay for a certified coder? How are certified coders paid in a virtual position? (Ex: MTs are paid by line.) Thanks for any answers you can provide.

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.

Is ASR getting worse? [2008-10-07]
Has anyone else noticed how bad ASR has gotten lately? I just had the clearest speaking dictator and it was shocking how much ASR did not pick up and had to be changed!! Maybe they are now outsourcing even the computer program so that it does not recognize American accents!! HA!

AHIMA [2008-10-07]
AHIMA is the Association for Health Information Management. They are the credentialing body for CCAs and CCSs as well as RHIT and RHIA. CCA is certified coding associate, entry level credential, and CCS is certified coding specialist. The CPC exams and credentials are from an organization AAPC which I am not sure but I think is American Assoc of Professional Coders. AHIMA does actually offer an on-line coding program, but that is not actually the focus of the organization. I don't know what is more prevalent in your area, but in my area generally hospitals are looking for AHIMA credentials. That may not be true in your area. If you look at the review books for both CCS and CPC you will find the CPC is more CPT coding and CCS is more ICD coding. They do both, however, cover both ICD and CPT. Advance for HIM is a publication that is available on line and I believe for free as is Just Coding News, both of which might provide some useful info for you. There are others, but the names escape me right now. Boot camp is 4-day intensive but really not the best investment if you have no coding knowledge at all.

She's right, and I know because I'm [2008-10-04]
There are no requirements for any AHIMA coding credentials. In fact there are no accredited coding programs--AHIMA only approves them. Attending one is still not required. The above information is correct. I have both AHIMA and AAPC coding credentials, as well as an RHIA. The RHIT requires a 2-year degree from an HIM program accredited by AHIMA. The RHIA requires a 4-year degree from an HIM program accredited by AHIMA. A coder who wants to sit for the RHIT or RHIA exam has to take the HIM program, but may be able to test out of a number of courses, depending on the college. This confusion runs rampant in HIM departments. It's difficult to keep straight. There is a full explanation on the AHIMA website at www.ahima.org. The AAPC credential requirements are explained on www.aapc.com.

I am in NO way confused.... [2008-10-02]
Iworked in medical records for a few years before working from home, so I know exactly how it runs and what the job duties are because I participated in many of them. I also worked with coders who had worked in the field for 10 years and stillhad to go through an accredited program before being eligible to sit for their exams. The program that I am taking is heavy in coding, so sorry dear, but I won Also, once I complete all studies that I plan to take I will be eligible for the RHIA exam. I

Chillax....it's not that serious.... [2008-10-01]
I didn I am not just working on a coding certificate. I I wasn I decided to go with them because of their accredations and the program outline. Let me put it this way, I was just trying to let the OP know to be careful of which school she picks because just because you finish a coding course doesn

You can sit for the exam with NO course. [2008-10-01]
You seem to be confused about the exams and credentials. You are warning others to be careful of which school they pick because just because you finish a coding course doesn That's not correct. You can sit for any CODING certification offered by AHIMA or AAPC even if you DON'T finish a coding course. You don't even have to start! They only require a high school diploma. AHIMA doesn't even require experience. You do need to be careful of what school you pick because some of them don't produce employable coders. As for you, your course is a 2-year RHIT program. You DO need the course in order to sit for the RHIT exam. However, an RHIT program is not a degree in management. It is a technical degree. ThatT is for--technician. It will qualify you to be a worker bee in a medical records environment--the same job people off the street can get. You can put together patient records, shelve and retrieve them, make photocopies to release patient information, check reports for signatures, etc. A better job would be coding. It pays better and it's more interesting. It takes less time, too. You could do all the coding first, then get a job while you do the rest. The RHIA is the management degree. There are RHITs who work their way up into management in small facilities, but most of them end up filing records or coding. RHIAs run the show.

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.

Are you a graduate? [2008-09-29]
Your writing is certainly not a good recommendation for the program. I didn't think spamming was allowed here.

At-Home Scams [2008-09-07]
Has anybody clicked on the add that comes up on the top of this page from time to time that asks you if you want to make major money working part time at home. I clicked on it and it said something about Rebate Processor Positions. I figure it is another scam and I should not have clicked on it, but I am getting sick of making pennies per line for the past 10 years doing medical transcription and getting no where. Anyway, I was just curious if anybody knows anything about this potential scam?? Thanks!

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 programs [2008-08-24]
Andrews has a coding program, but it might be more comprehensive than what you are looking for.

I made this transition [2008-07-10]
I moved to a coding position after our hospital outsourced its transcription. I was able to start out with clinic coding, which was very basic based on my previous experience with anatomy and physiology and medical terminology. I have chosen to take the Coding Basics program offered by AHIMA through their distance education program. I enjoy coding, but I do miss typing occasionally!

You are correct [2008-06-21]
that RHIT training and the credential allows one to do a lot more than coding. Usually the RHIT or RHIA are preferred for management level positions. You would get training in every aspect of an HIM office, computer systems, ROM, legal problems, transcription, teaching, etc. The HIPAA laws created new positions that RHITs/RHIAs were sought to fill. But I dont think it includes much more than the basics in cancer registry...that is a different program. I got my RHIT in 1989 and my RHIA in 1992. I was a director of HIM in two small, rural hospitals and learned I dont like management. I had always done a lot of coding and a little transcription and grew to much prefer transcription. However my credential allowed me to start at a higher than entry level salary. Coding has too much interference from Medicare and other insurance companies for my taste. Medicare can drive you nuts! I have not coded in nearly a year now, so I might be way out of touch with it, but I have not heard of an off-shoring threat. In my area the only outsourcing there usually is is for backlogs. I have also done my internships and then coded three years at a huge big-city hospital. That hospital now has the coders working from home, but they still dont outsource. Another field to get into with HIM is DRG validation. That might be more big city, but still something an RHIT student would learn. Also, in the huge hospitals, there is a separate filing dept and usually a credentialed person manages that. Since I like filing, I always thought that would be interesting. I guess what I am trying to say is the RHIT or RHIA credential does open more windows than coding alone, and if you think you would like to ever get into managment one or both of these credentials is most likely mandatory. I would be glad to talk further with you.

billing [2008-06-17]
I graduated from Us career insitute. It was a great program. I am looking for work from home.

Ideas for letter [2008-06-09]
Hello, I was just wanting a little help. I am finishing up my program in about two weeks. I am having a problem finding a job because I have no medical office experience. I am currently writing a letter to Medical offices, clinics and hospitals seeking employment. I would like to know if anyone on here has done this and if you have any special wording or ideas I would really appreciate it. I plan on attaching my resume to the letter. I am even open to an internship of some sort just to get the experience. I just can It's the old you need experience but, how are you going to get experience if no one will let you try. Again, any help I would really appreciate. Thanks!!

Transcription question [2008-05-14]
Hello, I have a few questions. I amcurrently taking a medical transcription course. It actually is the final part of my program I have been taking.I am doing the Hillcrest Medical Center book. I am having lots of trouble with the cases in the book. Trouble hearing them and understanding them. My teacher says that I need to be flexible in my working conditions. See I am doing this transcription in a classroom with about 15 other women that are working all kinds of other things. Lots of talking, and other activities going on. My question is....Is this typical in an office? I have read that typically a Transcriptionist is working in a quite part of the office or at home. Also, transcription isn My other question is how do you get your foot in the door?? I only have a small amount of experience in an office and, that was a distribution office at that. I have no medical office experience. It is just so hard to get into any place because they want experience. I can Thanks

MT versus coding [2008-05-08]
Every now and then I see Transcriptionist jobs around this area but the pay is usually around 9 an hour, way too low. I too have had it with transcription and have applied to the community college here for the nursing program. Too much knowledge in my noggin to waste it. Good luck to you with the coding, I hope it works out for you.

Re: Medical Coding Career [2008-04-24]
I was in your same shoes a couple years ago. Newly single mom of three young kids - one with a disability - and nursing school was no longer possible. Thatt finishe yet, but I am already coding for a clinic. I started there as a receptionit and when they found out what I was in school for I kept getting asked to fill out forms needing codes. More and more later, I am now being transitioned into a billing/coding position, and am able to flex some of my position from home. Plus, since it is work related, my employer will pay for my books, certification exam fee. My advice for newcomers to the field is to get a job at least part time at a clinic, privte doctors office somewhere. That's where most coders I know, and myself, have gotten their foot in the door. And it is well worth it in the end.

Medical transcription school [2008-03-13]
Do the M-Tec program. I am by no means a recruiter or anything of the sort. I am an M-Tec graduate and have had job offers coming out my ears and it all started with my good solid education with M-Tec not to mention M-Tec still after all these years sends me emails with places contacting them to hire their grads. Not the cheapest program, not the most expensive, just the best by far. You will not be sorry if you choose them.

CareerStep [2007-12-26]
I graduated from Career Step last May and took the CPC test and passed on the first try. I am retiring from my current job in June and will be seeking a coding position. I work from home as an MT and went into coding hoping to make more $. From what I can tell, it is difficult getting your foot in the door with the coding. I am planning on doing an internship with our local hospital next summer in hopes that it may lead to something. If not, I will at least have some experience. I also am signing up with temp agencies. I was told by one local one, that they get requests for coders almost every day. I do believe that working in a hospital setting my increase your chances of getting into coding because they will know you and that he half the battle. I found the CS program very good and user friendly. Their on line teacher is great. Any question I had, he answered very quickly via email. It took me about 8 months to complete the course. If you have any specific questions that I can answer, please email me. yogagirl.

I would check out Andrews instead. [2007-12-23]
Last I heard, the CS coding course was for outpatient coding only, and it would not prepare you for a job working in a hospital setting. Andrews, however, has a great program and has grads that are passing the certification exams right after graduation (some even before).

school [2007-11-22]
I have been coding for about 12 years and had on the job training. I borrowed some books from a friend who had taken the AAPC course and studied her books..took the test back in September and did not pass it, ordered the CPC-P study guide studied it and retook the test on the 10th and passed. AAPC has a good independent study program and they offer classes at different sites. The website is AAPC.org (If that isn't correct you can type in American Academy of Professional Coders and get the link from there. Sandy