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Coding certification - Is it a thing of the past?

Posted: Mar 24, 2014

Now that it has become evident that M*Modal is willing to utilize uncertified coders, do you suppose other employers will follow suit in not requiring their coders to hold certifiications? Will this become a trend? Why or why not?

well certification pays more - East MT

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not sure why you wouldn't pursue it. you are talking a decent jump in pay. So no I don't think that's going to be a trend.

It does for now - If employers stop demanding it

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Then it will not hold value to anyone and employers will not pay extra for it. I am torn . . . I can see both sides. Is certification using a book as important now that most coders use computer aided coding and encoders to code?

Coding certification - WXYZ

[ In Reply To ..]
Do you know that MM plans to use uncertified coders? Go to their website and read their requirements for coders. With the training program, I assumed that people would be required to sit for an exam at the end of their apprenticeship. Being certified in coding holds value, it pays more. Passing an exam demonstrates a person's knowledge and proves that they know how to code. With ICD-10, the certification requirements have actually become more important. The employers where I live require at least one coding credential plus experience before they hire. Also, coding does not remain static. People need to stay current on their continuing education; maintaining certification and being members of AHIMA or AAPC helps them do that. Encoders make suggestions, coders are still the decision makers.

One of the coding trainees asked about - certification

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And was told that it was not required. If they want to get certification they are to do it on their own.

Yes, like everybody else has to do it . . . - on their own.

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Why are you reading something sinister into that?

Just curious, what do you think an "encoder" - is and does???

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An encoder is software which handles the cases, so you can enter codes on them. It doesn't CODE them--it just provides you with the resources to do it and do it electronically instead of on paper.

There are 2 types . . . decision-tree and electronic book. Neither of them does the coding for you.

Computer-aided coding doesn't do the coding decision-making for you, either.

You still have to BE ABLE TO CODE and you DO THE CODING.

Certification is certification regardless of how you do your work on the job.

I use one on occasion at work - coding student

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I actually know what it is and does, but thank you.

Then you know it does not code - for you.

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So, yes, of course certification using a book is valuable. It's the SAME knowledge. That doesn't change with an encoder or CAT.

There is no particular "skill" required to use an encoder. People pick it up in about 15 minutes. It's about as "challenging" as Outlook and far less of an issue than a cell phone.

I know my coworker has not picked up her code book - Since she started using it

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

??? What does that have to do with it? - sm

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We are certified in coding, not using a code book.

There is a lot more to coding than looking up codes.

Not arguing further - coding student

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I do understand why the coding board has blown up with nastiness over the last few days and it has nothing to do with a few MModal employees.

Thank you for all of the responses! - I am a student (not M*Modal)

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Looking at trying to take certification exams next year. It has me really scared, as I am not a great test taker . . . I get really nervous. Up to this point, employers demand certification. If it looks like that is not going to be necessary anymore, I might wait & see what happens.

It is necessary - WXYZ

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't see employers dropping the certification requirement. Unless you are responsible enough to stay current and maintain your continuing education on your own, for that reason alone I recommend becoming certified. If you don't want to make more money, don't do it. If you never want to leave M-Modal, don't do it but you will never find a coding job on the outside without it. You may get interviews, but they will always choose the more qualified candidate who maintains their credential. This is not MT where the CMT carries no weight, this is a legitimate certification that will open doors for you.

Okay - that makes sense

[ In Reply To ..]
Do you see any possibility where employers will choose noncertified coders over certified ones just to avoid paying them more? I would assume MModal will have certified coders overseeing the noncertified ones. Would that be a plan other companies or hospitals would follow?

No. Again with this issue? - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
This has been addressed several times here already, not hardly a few inches down. Here it is again.

What follows is not my opinion. It is the way it is. There really isn't any argument against it, unless you want to argue against established practice in an entire professional field. It's like arguing that accountants might start forgoing the CPA because some firm hired a trainee.

First of all, it is incorrect to say that "M*Modal is willing to utilize uncertified coders." That isn't exactly what they said and it isn't exactly what it means.

Facilities and companies that have INTERNAL TRAINING PROGRAMS typically DO use their new coders. What else would you expect them to do? Demand a certification right away when it is well-known that coders often require 2 years of work experience to get that certification???

Furthermore, no other employers will "follow suit in not requiring their coders to hold certifications." M*Modal is not the God of Everything. In fact, they are a very SMALL presence in the coding side of the HIM industry. They are NOT the guide or judge of quality in HIM. They have no power over it at all.

We have said this before, and I'll say it again . . . facilities have a huge financial stake in their coding. They simply cannot afford to code incorrectly, nor can they afford to get caught at it and not have what is known as a "compliance plan." They have to be able to show that they tried their best to be sure their employees did the right thing. Part of that is hiring credentialed coders.

Who has the power?? MEDICARE. When CMS comes after you, you had better be able to show that you did the best you could . . . you hired certified coders, you audited them yourself, you hired outside auditors periodically, you provided policies and training, and all the rest of it.

That's why nobody in their right mind uses noncredentialed coders UNLESS THEY ARE IN LEARNING STATUS. And that is what M*Modal's new trainees will be.

There is also nothing whatsoever unusual about M*Modal telling them that they were responsible to get their own certification. That is COMPLETELY NORMAL and STATUS QUO for facilities.

I had to get my own. I got my own. Everyone gets their own. No employer hand-held me to the testing room. It's your own professional responsibility.

Employers OFTEN hire coders pending certification. They usually have a year to get it. That is acceptable.

I'll also point out that these certifications are not in the same class as the ones MTs are used to from AHDI. These are handled by the American Health Information Management Association and the American Association of Professional Coders, and they are serious about it. They are your only evidence that you are competent in your field.

For your information - coding student

[ In Reply To ..]
I am new to this discussion, have not been following the situation, did not know anything about M*Modal until this morning and there is NO REASON to talk to me like that. IF you can not speak civilly to someone asking a question in the future, which is part of the reason for this board, please don't bother to answer. I assume you are not paid for your duties. There are many, many coders here who are not only intelligent, but also can be polite. In addition, I was just repeating what the coding trainee said, that she was responsible for getting the certification herself. Take that up with her if you have a problem with that wording.

As a coding student, you are also responsible - for getting the cert yourself.

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Where did I say I wasn't? - That is why I am a student

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So that I can learn enough to pass certification exams. I was just repeating what the trainee said. She said that M*Modal said certification was not necessary, and if she wanted to become certified she would have to do it herself. So if you have an issue with that, take it up with her. Why did you change your previous message? Too harsh?

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