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Completed the CPC-H course and passed final exam - whew!

Posted: Aug 12, 2012

I just passed the final exam for the AAPC CPC-H course! After completing the 24 chapters, one just have to take the test; I waited and stressed out about it, but then finally decided on a day and took the final. I am an MT with decades of experience who got outsourced yet again and had my pay cut in half. I am extremely glad I have a chance at another career, even if I am in my late 50s. What can I lose?

Good Job! When are you scheduled to take the CPC-H exam? - Good Luck!

[ In Reply To ..]
Congratulations on finishing your CPC-H course.

Do you plan on taking the CPC test soon? Let us know how you do.

Good for you - On site MT

[ In Reply To ..]
Way to go, let us know how you do on the CPC exam.

Congrats! - just me

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Congratulations on your hard work.

Sorry your MT pay went down/outsourced. Good luck in your endeavors. Keep us posted.

Good job! - coder2b

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Good start for bigger and better things

So happy for you - you are an inspiration to us all! - CTMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I have been on the fence about committing to a program and studying, but really feel inspired by you as you are just like many of us MTs on this board, been in the business and long time and have to get something else going. I love the medical language field and want to stay in it, and feel coding is the next step for me. did you find the exam really difficult or as long as you study are you okay?

committing.. - whew!

[ In Reply To ..]
Being suddenly unemployed and outsourced for the second time was my motivation; what could I segue into?
I did find my MT experience helped. Coding is much more detailed. I had no trouble with diagnosis codes but struggled with CPT coding. While I took the course, I hand wrote a ton of info the CPT and ICD-9-CM books because pasting notes or adding post-it notes in the books are not allowed at the certification exam. I am taking that in September, the soonest slot I could find in my area.
Finding a job? That will obviously be a major feat. I do know one has to just move forward, so don't take too much time in deciding that. Never thought this would happen to me.....and, yes, I have had a few major meltdowns in the last six months!

Committed - On site MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm also in my late 50s and completed a coding program, did it while working 40 hours a week as an MT which I wouldn't recommend to people if they have another option while attending school. My experience was similar to yours, I found CPT coding more difficult than ICD-9, I think it was the modifiers, I still have trouble with the E/M codes. I haven't taken the CPC exam yet as my MT job continues to go well but it's one day at a time. Good luck with the certification exam, I'm sure you'll do well.

MT Experience helped - CTMT

[ In Reply To ..]
So did you skip the medical language and anatomy course or did you have to take it too with the program. Can you tell me what school/program you decided to go with? How long did it take you to complete the course and take the school's exam?

MT experience - On site MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I took the medical language and anatomy course as there was no way to skip it in my program. It was a good review and I was surprised at how much I had forgotten. I did the Career Step program. They gave people a year to finish and I used all of that time. I studied/reviewed for about a week before I took the exam. Knowing what I know now, I probably would have chosen a different school, but the program was pretty decent. I would want to take one of the AAPC prep courses sponsored by the local chapters or do more independent study before I take the exam, especially since I've had some down time.

I am going to take this lady's program - CTMT

[ In Reply To ..]
This link is to her bubbling and highlighting technique for the exam

http://www.codingcertification.org/medical-coding-certification-review-videos?utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_source=hubspot_email_marketing&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2767088&_hse=bracken4bracken4%40yahoo.com&_hsmi=2767088&_hsh=b9ec943b733d58494d9497027d72c613

Suggestion - Thoughts

[ In Reply To ..]
That looks like a good set of review CDs. It probably contains the usual topics covered in an AAPC CPC review class . . . the kind local chapters hold prior to exams. It is in the same ballpark in terms of price, or not much higher.

The 90 hour course will undoubtedly contain the same content as the AAPC course because Laureen is an AAPC certified instructor and uses their materials.

That being said, be certain to check the job market in your area. Attend monthly meetings of your local AAPC chapter and network with members to find out about job prospects. If there are no jobs in your area, you will have a problem.

Also be certain what kinds of jobs are available and what you need for them. The AAPC 90 hour course teaches only outpatient coding and typically covers ICD-9 diagnosis coding, anatomy, physiology, pharmaology, and pathophysiology very superficially. They spend most of their time on CPT coding. If you can get a job with that in your area, that is fine.

Personally, I think that type of course is ok for those already working in jobs close to coding. It is a course people take to move up or further on
once they are already working in something like a doctors' office or clinic and want to start doing the coding.

Be sure you understand what inpatient coding is, too, because that course does not prepare you for it. You will not be able to pass the CCS exam with it. This may shut you out of hospital jobs, but if the outpatient market in your area is good, you might not mind.

What about price? It is about the same as most outpatient courses, either those offered by AAPC or something like the first half of Andrews (their outpatient portion).

$1300 with the Medical term & anatomy course geared towards ICD-10 - CTMT

[ In Reply To ..]
Outpatient seems to me the way to go first and I can work on the inpatient later if I can't find a job in outpatient. I cannot afford these programs that run $2000-$4000 with no guarantee of a job at the end of it.

Go with the regular course - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
You can't see spending money on a course that already includes the med terms, the anatomy, the pathophysiology, the pharmacology, and the inpatient coding, but you have no problem paying extra for med terms and anatomy that SHOULD HAVE been part of the course to begin with.

You have no idea what you need, you are ignoring any advice here that doesn't agree with you, but you believe website hype without hesitation.

The AAPC courses have been beneficial for many coders. There is nothing wrong with that. We wish you luck.

But, as someone already trained in and doing training in ICD-10, I will suggest that you save your money on the extra med terms and anatomy. It isn't med terms that is needed and it isn't just some anatomy. Half the people offering courses now are offering material that has little bearing on what you need for ICD-10. They are capitalizing on coder hysteria.

You will be doing only outpatient coding, so you will not need to know ICD-10-PCS, the inpatient procedural code set, which is where you need to know more. You can transition from 9 to 10 in about 5 hours. At that point, you can just look up what you need or get a book and study it.

I appreciate the advice but.... - CTMT

[ In Reply To ..]
Looks like AAPC has separate fees and you do not get it "all in one" I appreciate your getting back to me, but do not appreciate your scolding me just because I like Laureen's way of teaching that I am ignoring advise on this board.

This is from the AAPC website:

CPCÂ® Preparation Course
(Physician Office Medical Coding)
Price: $1,495.00 (Members: $1,195)

Anatomy Course
(strongly recommended for CPCÂ® and
CPC-HÂ® courses)
Price: $520.00 (Members: $395)

CPC-HÂ® Preparation Course
(Outpatient Hospital/Facility Coding)
Price: $1,495.00 (Members: $1,195)

Medical Terminology Course
(strongly recommended for CPCÂ® and
CPC-HÂ® courses)
Price: $520.00 (Members: $395)

Evaluation and Management (E/M) Course
Price: $395.00 (Members: $295)

Medical Billing and Reimbursement Course
Price: $1,495.00 (Members: $1,195)

Whats so wrong with this course? - CTMT

[ In Reply To ..]
http://www.codingcertification.org/physician-based-medical-coding-course

Scroll down the page and you will see the comparison to AAPC - with this course you get more help with passing the exam.

You are not hearing what she told you - CCS, CPC

[ In Reply To ..]
Laureen is teaching an AAPC course. AAPC teaches them and Laureen is certified to teach their course. Look at her credentials and look at the books she teaches with.

The other poster never said anything was wrong with the course. It is fine for outpatient coding. It is far better than many other programs.

The other poster just told you not to bother with the extra med terms and anatomy for ICD-10. You do not need that now and if you are doing outpatient coding you may not ever need it.

I am hearing loud and clear and don't appreciate yours and the others condescending manner - CTMT

[ In Reply To ..]
There is a polite way to speak to people and a thing called manners FYI, and a lot of us are tired coming to this board and being talked to in a demaning way. The other poster said AAPC course includes inpatient and outpatient for same price and it does not and neither does Laureen's, those are separte. Also, there is no harm in brushing up on med terms and anatomy directed ICD-10

Whoa - Just a reader not a coder

[ In Reply To ..]
I didn't get any of that from the prior posts. I think you might have issues though going forward with an attitude like yours.

The other poster did not say that - Following Along

[ In Reply To ..]
The other poster never said both inpatient and outpatient were included.

The AAPC course teaches ONLY outpatient coding. Laureen teaches the AAPC course. She is certified by them to teach it.

People are giving you very good, accurate advice but when it does not agree with what you want, you perceive it as rude and you lash out. People are trying to help you because you asked for help. They are taking their time to help you, but you are repaying their efforts poorly.

I agree that your attitude speaks of trouble to come with respect to coding.

Coding requires a high degree of analytical skill and the ability to receive criticism. If you do not feel that describes you, you should consider another field.

Whoever post this is why I got upset, there is no need to talk to people like this on this board - CTMT

[ In Reply To ..]
"You can't see spending money on a course that already includes the med terms, the anatomy, the pathophysiology, the pharmacology, and the inpatient coding, but you have no problem paying extra for med terms and anatomy that SHOULD HAVE been part of the course to begin with.

You have no idea what you need, you are ignoring any advice here that doesn't agree with you, but you believe website hype without hesitation."

the delivery could be - kinder

[ In Reply To ..]

... when a message responder says

"you're wrong" or

"you have never worked, therefore nothing you would find necessary is likely to be the sort of thing needed for daily work" or

"you have no idea what you need"

the rest of the message probably won't be absorbed because you just insulted someone.

Thanks for the support - I felt like a lamb being surrounded by wolves - CTMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I was just shocked at the tone when all I did was state the program I am interested in. I was not prepared to be talked to that "I was not listening" and now they are saying I won't make it in coding. I got a good feeling about coding because the work interests me, so I know I will do well and hopefully pass the exam. I do have a job offer after I pass the exam. I just want to take a course where I don't get bored stiff with the training, and I can see I won't with Laureen's course because I have been watching her video clips and when she does examples, I can really comprehend it. I am hanging on desperately to a nighttime MT job that is straight transcription, I hope it lasts long enough to pay for coding training, LOL

You are surrounded by sheepdogs - Not wolves

[ In Reply To ..]
Someone gave you very good advice that actually supported what you want to do, but pointed out where you can save money.

Her first post was very polite, but you attacked her and twisted what she said. After that, she appears to have become frustrated trying to explain because, in fact, you did not appear to be listening.

It can be difficult for someone to know what they need. That is why we ask for advice from people who are more experienced. We ask them to tell us what we need. We already know we do not know.

If you feel you are surrounded by wolves, when in fact right now they are just sheepdogs,you will hate coding. You may make it through a course, but the criticism and constant auditing on the job is going to make you ill.

Coding is very high stress and has extremely high performance expectations. It also requires constant learning and research that you will have to do the hard way . . . by looking up information, reading it, and putting it together.

Some things about coding can be very boring. If you think a coding course will bore you to death, think twice about coding because what we do in coding courses is code. If it bores you in class, it will bore you on the job.

I completed the program by AAPC - whew!

[ In Reply To ..]
I signed up for the AAPC course. It has 24 chapters; compliance, anatomy and medical terminology, documentation and coding standards, Medicare payment systems, teaching physician, all the subspecialties (cardiovascular, respiratory, etc), radiology, pathology, lab and medicine. It is a four-month course and if one can't get it done in that time frame, you can purchase extra month(s). There is a calendar to help you set deadlines. I thought it was difficult at times but pressed forward. That's why I say one has to really be committed. There are "coaches" available to email at any time. The course, CPT, ICD-9, Procedural Coding Expert and HCPCS books, 3 practice exams and future certification exam cost me $1660, at the time I signed up the price was discounted, don't remember why.

Those notes in your books . . . - Coder

[ In Reply To ..]
If you wrote "a ton of info" in your books, you should do one of two things . . . either show them to a proctor NOW and get an agreement that the written info is acceptable or buy a duplicate set of books to use in case they will not let you use yours due to having too much information written in them.

The AAPC does not give you carte blanche to cram as much as you can into the white space. They allow only the kind of notes you would need in daily work. You have never worked, therefore nothing you would find necessary is likely to be the sort of thing needed for daily work.

I might put an asterisk next to a code I wanted to stick out, or I might highlite a V code we used unde certain circumstances, or write in a clinic name, or draw lines linking groups of codes I often use together. Those are examples of working notes.

Notes written inappropriately would be excerpts from textbooks, guidelines, or other material I should have committed to memory like definitions, rules, explanations, and so forth.

You will not be taking the CCS exam, so you won't have a problem in that respect. The AHIMA exam proctors are very rigid about what they will accept. They usually accept very little. AAPC proctors are more lenient, but not to the point of accepting "tons of info."

I occasionally proctor, so I know. If they reject your books, you will lose your exam fee. Get them checked in advance or get a new set for the exam. Do so quickly, too. Book suppliers are already running out of 2012 books.

Question - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
If I take either CCS or CPC test in November, can I use the 2012 books or do I need to buy 2013 books?

Both will still use 2012 books. They tell you on their - Websites

[ In Reply To ..]
The switch occurs in the spring because they have to write the new test first.

They tell you exactly when on their websites.

From original poster - Whew!

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you for your comments, seasoned coder. Always can use your help......

Congratulations! I just passed the CPC-H certification - future coder

[ In Reply To ..]
exam this past weekend. My advice to you is take the certification once to get a feel for what to expect and then if you do not pass it the first time, study what you feel you needed to work on before you take it again as it is intense. This is what I did and I felt so better prepared the second time around. That 5 hours and 40 minutes is intense but it was worth it. I feel REALLY good right now!

Good Job! - MMOM

[ In Reply To ..]
Congrats to you! I am sure it was worth all the hard work you put in. I hope to be joining you in the months to come.

Congratulations! - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

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