Why Andrews?

...and this is a serious question. What is it about that school that makes everyone think they're so good? What do they do that's so special?

I just passed the CPC on the first attempt (though admittedly, I haven't tried the CCS yet). I took a 6-week online overview course that cost me $86 in November through December, and then I took an onsite course at a local community college for $100 from January through early June. Then, I bought the "Blitz" seminar for $197 from CCO.

Then there were the books.  I bought a very slightly damaged 2015 HCPCS for around $30. I paid $80 for a 2014 ICD-9 (since they haven't changed since 2012 anyway). Here's the scary part: I bought a 2014 CPT manual, too. $10.

As you can see, I'm operating on a pretty strict budget, here. Nevertheless, I took and passed the CPC, using my year-old, scarily outdated CPT manual. I ALMOST failed due to missing questions I didn't have the codes for, but made it. With a couple points to spare. Whew! NOT advisable.

(Just a note for the also poor: If you MUST pull this bonehead maneuver due to the exorbitant costs of these books, however, keep this in mind; the new codes will likely be in the same ORDER as the old ones. For example, if a procedure shows bilateral first, then unilateral, the new answer pairing should be in the same order. If you can eliminate TWO of the other answers -- and they do tend to be grouped in similar pairs, and you CAN often eliminate a pair at a time -- you STILL might be able to pick the correct one, without even having the codes to look at. This is what I tried to do. I'm not sure if it worked, because they don't tell you what you missed & what you didn't. I know I missed at least some of them. The 2015 CPT has 500+ changes from the 2014.  Do whatever you can to get a new one.)

Anyway, having pulled this off with what a lot of coders might regard as an inferior education and an outdated primary manual, I really am wondering why some of the expensive programs are so highly regarded. What have I missed? I'm trying to figure out where I may have any educational deficits as I look for my first coding job. (I have been an MT for 5 years, and took all the required terminology, anatomy, disease pathology, etc. for that certificate.) Thanks for any insights. Geezus, I'm wordy. LOL.

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Why Andrews? - antigeekess

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