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Want to switch from MT to coding so badly - anon

Posted: Dec 09, 2013

I want to switch from MT to coding sooner rather than later but the problem is funds. It is so frustrating to barely make ends meet and have more month than money at times. Any and all advice is welcome. Thanks for listening.

coding and TAA - Ari

[ In Reply To ..]
The unemployment office told me today that some one filed for M*Modal to be a TAA company therefore if you meet the guidelines and were laid off in addition to your unemployment being extended also you can get training for up two years during which time you get paid unemployment. I don't understand it completely I have to go listen to a 2-hour talk about what TAA is and how much training, etc I qualify for. They recommend you DO NOT train for coding at this time. The coding is going to drastically change I think after the first of the year and the curriculum for coding at this time will be totally different shortly. Some training schools aren't even taking new students now. So if you want to be trained in coding just hold off a while and if you have been laid off ask about the trade act and they may be able to train you for FREE. Hope this helps you.

Was looking into Andrews and - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
Glenda told me they have already switched their cirriculum to meet the ICD 10. Thanks so much for your reply.

Why do you want to get into coding? My hospital outsources all the coding - sm

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to a service. This service just recently had their entire staff go from employees to ICs. Why do coding when it will be going the way of transcription.

Make things clear, please - sm

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You ars a noncoder talking about a field you know little about and do not understand.

Pretty clear to me - anon

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The poster said "My hospital outsources all the coding to a service. This service just recently had their entire staff go from employees to ICs."

I appreciate all comments, especially someone posting their first-hand experience. Just because they are a 'noncoder' doesn't mean they aren't allowed to post. Your reaction makes me question your agenda.

Don't assume. I used to be a coder - sm

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I worked hard to get my CCS, was an inpatient coder and did not like it so I completely changed careers. I am now a CNA working towards becoming an LPN. I still work at the same hospital where I was a coder, just as a CNA now. So, don't assume and accuse me of not knowing anything about coding. I know all too well everything about the HIM department and where it's headed.

OK, so you did not like your job - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
You didn't like the job or the department. They were not a good fit for you. Nothing wrong with that.

My objection is to your belief that you "know all too well everything about the HIM department and where it is headed." If you are speaking of your feelings about that one hospital's department, that's fine. Maybe you do.

I don't think you know everything about HIM in general and do not know where the industry is headed. You do not appear to have an HIM credential like an RHIA to indicate that you have any education to support your views, and your experience seems limited to one disgruntled job at one hospital. If you did have those credentials, it is unlikely that you would trade an HIM salary for CNA or LPN.

You also appear to be misinformed about the nature of contract coding. Those are actually very good jobs that pay well. It is nothing like the situation in MT.

Job satisfaction - Anon2

[ In Reply To ..]
I see nothing wrong with changing gears, even if it paid less. Maybe this person wanted to be directly involved in patient care. If she did not enjoy being a coder, chances are she is not going to enjoy HIM. I admire anyone courageous enough to try something entirely new. LPN salaries are not that shabby, by the way. Any time someone has to go from a fully benefited employee with all the perks to a contract employee, they lose a lot.

I guess it depends on where you are - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
CNA pay here is poor. LPN is not much better. That is largely due to the glut of RNs being produced by 2 community colleges with branches everywhere and a university program that churns out BSNs.

We don't hire CNAs at all and only use LPNs in clinics, not the hospital.

As noted above, nothing wrong with changing your mind, not liking something, hating management, or just deciding to turn over a new leaf. The problem is in providing negative advice after deciding that the entire career field is bad based on your personal dislikes or limited experience.

Coding is a good fit for some people. I think it is wrong to steer people away from it because it didn't work out for you.

You do not know the circumstances involved in that situation, or even if it happened at all. It might be that they did not lose anything. Contract coders ars well-paid.

The hospital where I volunteer - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Is in the process of hiring 5 coders, any maybe more next year. Their department is internal only and there are no plans to outsource.

They are, however, looking to downsize the amount of CNAs, and want to replace then with more LPNs and RNs. They want to be able to offer a higher quality of care and service.

So, you see? It depends. One person's experience is not equivalent to the whole.

The "advice" about coding is wrong. - Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!

[ In Reply To ..]
Your information and your unemployment office are wrong to the point of being bizarre. How people who are in the business of advising others can so totally screw this up is beyond me, as is how people who don't understand what they are talking about can think it is perfectly fine to advise others.

I don't know about schools not taking students. I have not heard of it. However, if a school misunderstood this to the point that they felt they had to shut down, or had to shut down until they could get their act together, that should tell you something. Find a school that isn't incompetent.

Your unemployment office gave you terrible advice - Student

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Yes, ICD9 is changing to ICD10. Yes, it is different, but it is still coding. Many things are still the same. I am learning both right now while working in a coding department. If you want to learn coding, there is no reason to wait! The only schools I've heard that have stopped taking students are the ones who have to put prospective students on wait lists because they are full.

Secondly, no job is totally and completely secure. I wish I could tell you coding will not be outsourced. What I can tell you is, coding is all about bringing money in and management takes it VERY SERIOUSLY. So please, if you want to learn coding don't let people discourage you.

If you are absolutey - Sure

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That coding is what you want to do, I would recommend Andrews as the way to go straight into coding. If you want to learn how to code both IP and OP and get credentials from AAPC and AHIMA when you are done, this is the way. They let you make payments. It is a tough course, but if you want it it will work for you. That's what I did, others may have other good ideas.

Idea - Anon2

[ In Reply To ..]
Coding is great but do make sure it is what you want. I would also investigate the job market for coders where you live; it will be easier for you if you live in a metropolitan area versus a rural setting unless you are willing to relocate. My advice, though: Take some additional courses related to health information management or health information technology, maybe even some additional things on the reimbursement side in addition to coding so that you can expand your job search. I'm not saying that it is going to happen, but if your coding job ever gets outsourced, you will have some other options.

That is what I am afraid of... - OP

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Coding going offshore. Not wanting to start a debate but it is a real fear of mine. Any advice?

Yes - advice

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Don't live your life in fear.

My advice would be to get out of the medical field - altogether. Its a total shambles,

[ In Reply To ..]
and getting worse every month. Jobs keep disappearing, pay keeps getting worse, and the current insurance mess is exacerbating the problem. Health care in America is a joke, and a laughing stock to many other, more civilized countries in this world.

I'd start with the AAPC course - about $1500

[ In Reply To ..]
and get your CPC. But that's just me. Most people here will tell you it's Andrews or nothing.

Can you tell me why and - OP

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what to do after the AAPC course to get my CCS? Thanks so much for your info!

just think it's the quickest way - to get started

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Then once you have that credential, you may or may not work toward the CCS. You could continue adding to your knowledge base through the AAPC, rather than AHIMA. Check the website here:

That is one way to do it - Just understand this

[ In Reply To ..]
You can start off with the AAPC course, but be aware that nothing they teach covers inpatient coding. You can take everything they offer and still not come anywhere near CCS material.

If you were thinking the CPC-H course is inpatient coding, it is not. I am certain of that because I am a CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-H.

Also be aware that if you do intend to go on for the CCS, there are few programs teaching it at all, apparently none teaching it alone, and you may end up having to take what you already had over again.

Andrews - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
A lot of people here recommend Andrews because it seems to be the only course that will teach enough for a student to pass BOTH the CPC and the CCS, and have a good record of passing scores. It's a one stop shop, really. You may run across other schools that teach toward the CPC and the CCA, but the CCA is really a wash as a credential and best avoided.

Also, AHIMA recently changed their schooling requirements to such a degree that their own CCS course doesn't qualify a person to take the exam. Andrews meets/exceeds those requirements.

I also believe, though am not sure, that as far as the CPC goes, Andrews' course is such that once you pass the CPC, you do not have to be listed as a CPC-A. If you take the AAPC course, you would still have the -A designation after your certification, which doesn't really endear you to potential employers. However, like I said, I'm not for sure on that, so I would suggest calling Andrews and talking to Linda personally (she's quite nice by the way and not pushy).

Btw, I am not a coder, nor affiliated with Andrews. I am interested in coding and this is just info I have gleaned from both this board and my own research on other sites.

Removal of CPC-A - Anon2

[ In Reply To ..]
See link to AAPC website.

http://www.aapc.com/certification/apprentice_status.aspx

Yes, but I still believe the Andrews course somehow - bypasses that.. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

No, they do not - Anon2

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I don't know who told you that, but they were mistaken. Read all of the requirements - do you see Andrews listed anywhere? AAPC is the certifying board, offers a course and sponsors the exam. Do you not think they would recognize their own graduates and waive the requirement for them instead of another school? Rules are rules, sorry.

My mistake - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Here's the post where I got the info I was thinking about, but misremembered:

http://forum.mtstars.com/398172.html

Summation: Under the Andrews course, you still have the A, but you can waive 1 year experience due to the course.

I still recommend talking with Linda directly to verify, though.

The answer - sm

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"Submit proof showing completion of at least 80 contact hours of coding education AND one letter, on letterhead, signed from your employer verifying one year of on-the-job experience (externships accepted) using the CPT, ICD-9-CM, or HCPCS Level II code sets."

Andrews meets the time requirement to satisfy one of the two years, same as the AAPC courses.

Correct - Anon2

[ In Reply To ..]
In that respect, Andrews is no different than any other school. A person will have the apprentice designation after their name, regardless of program, until they have worked for a year. Calling Linda Andrews will get you nowhere.

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