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RHIT prepare you for coding - ac

Posted: Jul 23, 2014

I see programs to sit for RHIT but does that prepare you for coding? Is it required to get your CCA for that?

Sorta...sm - MTcoder

[ In Reply To ..]
In order to take the RHIT, you have to also have at least an AAS degree in HIM, and if you go to a CAHIIM accredited school, that program will prepare you for coding. If your school is not accredited, then you're sort of on your own for the RHIT exam, and the coding curriculum isn't necessarily approved. I would check the school's curriculum against the CAHIIM requirements. I've been an MT for several years and just did the HIM program and took the RHIT test in May.

Mine didn't - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I went to an approved school that would allow me to sit for the RHIT after graduating. I did not learn much coding through my program. I think in total I had only 3 coding classes and they did not at all prepare me for coding. My classes consisted mostly of medical legal, HIM fundamentals, medical billing, healthcare statistics and then those silly classes like psychology, writing, algebra. I had only 3 coding classes and it was a joke. The professor was an experienced coder, but this was her first teaching job and it was awful. I really learned no coding and failed the RHIT exam my first try. I'm studying now, but I really feel my coding is lacking. This is just my experience, but I wish I would have done Andrews coding program instead.

Then what is the best approach to begin coding - ac

[ In Reply To ..]
But also be able to sit for RHIT. Im also an MT but considering coding.

Three or four options - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
1. Take an RHIT program, preferably one that has a high pass rate on both the RHIT and the CCS. Yes, some do.

This will take you 2 to 3 years full time before you are ready to work. If you cannot code, cannot pass either exam, or are unable to get a coding job -- not unusual -- you will be limited to entry-level HIMS jobs like file clerk. Check those local salaries before you decide.

2. Take a coding course first. Get the CPC and, even better, also the CCS. Get a coding job. THEN enroll in an RHIT program. Some will credit you with the coding if you have the CCS. Some will let you test out. If not, just consider that an extra benefit and an easier A. Compensate for the cost by taking CLEP tests for your general requirements.

3. Note that the RHIT program may take 3 years. Consider the informatics RHIA at Western Governors University. You might be able to finish the whole thing in the same time. You will get a CCA and several other valuable certifications with that.

4. If you already have a bachelors degree, do not waste time on the RHIT. Go straight for the RHIA, doing a postbaccalaureate certificate in HIA from a university like the University of Toledo. Less expensive and it will take you faster into administration. Yes, you will learn coding, but you will be less likely to need it.

RHIT - and coding

[ In Reply To ..]
I am an RHIT who does medical coding. I was a transcriptionist for 5 years until it got outsourced and then transitioned to coding. I also have a CCA. I felt very prepared for coding but I code outpatient professional fee services which is basically just clinic. It depends on the program and the individual person. Good luck!!

Just clarifying ... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
In order to take the RHIT exam, you must complete a CAHIIM-accredited associate degree program in HIT. If you take a HIT program that is not CAHIIM-accredited, you are not just on your own with the RHIT exam ... you cannot take it at all, ever.

The CCA is not required for the RHIT. However, the CCA is a relatively useless credential that basically tells employers you are now ready to learn to code at their expense, because you didn't learn enough in school to pass the CCS or CCS-P. That is because most RHIT programs do not teach enough for you to pass the CCS, nor do they think they need to.

Coding certificate programs in colleges offer the same coding courses, which are often instructorless and online. Nuff said.

Some college programs do not offer enough coursework to qualify you to take the CCS or CCS-P. Check the CCS exam requirements website, not the CAHIIM requirements.

Thanks - ac

[ In Reply To ..]
What about Andrews, are they AHIMA approved? I read that many sit for their CCS after taking the coding course.

AHIMA Approval - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
No, Andrews is not AHIMA-approved. They are not the kind of school that can be approved, I believe. I think it has a lot to do with not being a college, although AHIMA approves of it's own instructorless program that doesn't teach enough to qualify for the CCS and another rather famously instructor-free, assistance-less one that gave AHIMA a huge donation. (All public knowledge, by the way.)

I think Andrews may teach "too much," as well. Instead of teaching only to the CCA with the assumption that it takes years of experience to learn the rest to pass the CCS, they go straight for the CCS. That goes beyond what others feel is possible. It produces coders who are ready to work, rather than trainees who plan to learn on the job.

Accreditation is necessary for the RHIT and RHIA, but approval is not necessary for the CCA, CCS, or CCS-P. For the latter, you must complete certain required coursework, whether a school is approved or not. A lot of approved schools do not teach it. Andrews does, and they do have folks who pass the CPC and the CCS. I am sure, because I am one of them.

please - explain

[ In Reply To ..]
what you mean by "I think Andrews may teach too much,"

They dont stop at - the CCA

[ In Reply To ..]
I think they go beyond what is expected or don't follow the same rigid old plan that every college seems to follow. That might not sit well with reviewers who want everyone in lockstep.

CCA, CPC, CCS, CCS-P - Crazy488

[ In Reply To ..]
I got fed up with trying to make a living in the MT field and decided to go into coding. I am currently doing a 200-hour externship that is required by the school that I attended, which many new graduates are permanently hired through this avenue. The school allows you to test for the CPC (Certified Professional Coder) 2 x's at their expense. Which is accredited by the AAPC (American Association of Professional Coders) If you do not pass the 3rd time, you pay for that out of your pocket. There are other avenues to approach that are accredited through AHIMA, the CCA (Certified Coding Associate) exhibits coding competency in any setting, including both hospitals and physician practices. The CCS (Certified Coding Specialist) and CCS-PÂ® (Physician based) exams demonstrate mastery level skills in an area of specialty: hospital-based for CCS's and physician practice-based for CCS-Ps.

What is accredited by AAPC? - Please provide a link.

[ In Reply To ..]
To my knowledge, AAPC does not and never has accredited anyone or any school.

Can you please provide a link to the source of your statement that your school is accredited by AAPC?

Is it Allied? - ac

[ In Reply To ..]
Do you happen to know the companies that are hiring with such little experience? Is it on site or virtual?

But if you want - to learn coding,

[ In Reply To ..]
be job ready and certified in both AAPC and AHIMA, Andrews is the best/direct quality route into coding. They meet the qualifications by AHIMA to be able to sit for the CCS. They cover anatomy/physiology, pharmacology, inpatient and outpatient coding, and much more. I just wanted to make that clear if anyone wanted to start with coding certifications and move on from there. This was my route from MT and it worked well for me.

Agree! That is how I did it. - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
NM

Im going to choose - ac

[ In Reply To ..]
Andrews. Seems like the quickest route out of MT. Is it doable 15 or so hours a week? I did that with MTEC or less. I did go on the Andrews forums and looked at what the recent graduates are saying as far as employment and it looks as though companies are hiring Andrews grads, even remote ones.

remote coding - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
Is it possible to get a remote coding job with no experience and no training period at the company? Where would you look to find such a job?

remote coding - ac

[ In Reply To ..]
From what I have researched, a couple companies have hired Andrews grads remotely, but they are credentialed. I haven't looked on their graduate forum yet, but just reading the industry forum there and what they are posting. I also emailed the program director and she said yes they are out there but you just have to be there at the right time.

About credentialing - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
In your post, you said Andrews grads were hired, "but they were credentialed."

I just want to explain something about credentials. In MT, credentials (CMT, etc.) never caught on, are not really necessary, and are kind of an optional item you attempt well after school, if ever.

Credentials in coding are very different. They are not just for you to impress an employer. Rather, they are also *for your employer.* Your employer is pretty much obligated to hire credentialed coders to demonstrate a good faith effort to comply with CMS requirements, as well as to ensure that you are qualified, reliably accurate, and productive.

In other words, you MUST be credentialed and you cannot wait around for years to get there. It is highly unlikely that anyone will hire you without at least one credential.

That being said, many schools have so much trouble teaching coding (and HIM, for that matter), that their students cannot pass credentialing exams when they graduate. That is why you will hear them talking about the need to get working experience before testing.

I would not accept that, if I were you, because you will end up another one of the hordes of HIM and coding students who remain unemployed.

Employers don't much care what school you attended, unless you passed a credentialing exam when you finished. In general, they like the CPC, really like the CCS, think the CCA is lame, and think graduating "with high honors" is stupid.

You need to plan accordingly. Don't attend a school which does not teach coding well enough that you cannot pass the CPC right away. Don't attend one that does not meet the requirements to take the CCS. Preferably, attend one whose students are passing the CCS. (Or were, before AHIMA suspended the test.)

Andrews actually meets those conditions.

Yes, I think 15 efficient hours would - do it

[ In Reply To ..]
NM

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