| What does a medical coder do? | | | | After gaining experience as a medical coder, most |
| Medical coders are essential in the health | | | | coding professionals like to pursue a Certified |
| information industry. Without medical coders - | | | | Professional Coder (CPC) certification. To acquire a |
| who assign specific codes to medical procedures | | | | CPC, a medical coder must pass a medical coding |
| and services - doctors, hospitals and other | | | | certification examination sponsored by the |
| healthcare providers would not get paid for the | | | | American Academy of Professional Coders |
| services they provide. Medical coders use | | | | (AAPC) . The CPC exam is a 5-hr exam, and |
| “codes” to identify specific procedures | | | | consists of questions regarding the correct |
| and services performed on patients. These codes | | | | application of CPT, HCPCS procedure and supply |
| determine how much to bill the patient’s | | | | codes and ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes, which are |
| private and/or public insurance companies. | | | | used for billing medical services to insurance |
| Medical coders read medical documentation (i.e. | | | | companies. |
| patient charts) then assign the proper code, using | | | | Why become CPC Certified: |
| their coding knowledge in addition to checking | | | | A recent 2008 AAPC Salary Survey revealed |
| classification manuals, to the completed service or | | | | that: |
| procedure. Once they've determined the proper | | | | • Certified Coders earn an average of 15% |
| coding, medical coders key the code into the | | | | more than their non-certified counterparts |
| proper form on their computer system. | | | | • 50% of survey respondents said that |
| In addition to identifying the procedure or service | | | | Certification was required for employment at their |
| performed, the assigned codes also help | | | | current positions (up from 42% in 2007) |
| determine how much the healthcare provider (i.e. | | | | • The average annual wage for a credentialed |
| doctor or hospital) will be reimbursed by Medicare, | | | | coder is $43,100, compared to $36,500 for a |
| Medicaid and private and public insurance | | | | non-credentialed coder |
| companies. It's critical that the proper codes are | | | | About the American Academy of Professional |
| used as mistakes can delay payment. | | | | Coders (AAPC) |
| Furthermore, the codes must adhere to insurance | | | | The American Academy of Professional Coders |
| requirements and federal regulations. | | | | (AAPC) was founded in 1988 in an effort to |
| Where do medical coders work? | | | | elevate the standards of medical coding by |
| Medical coding work includes full-time work- at | | | | providing certification, ongoing education, |
| least 40 hours each week. If you work in a | | | | networking, and recognition. Currently, the AAPC |
| hospital or another setting that is open 24 hours a | | | | has a membership base of 74,000 worldwide, of |
| day, 365 days a year, you can choose between | | | | which more than 58,000 are certified. |
| working days, evenings or nightshifts. Some | | | | The American Academy of Professional Coders |
| coders even work from home. | | | | (AAPC) currently provides medical coding |
| Medical coders are employed in a variety of | | | | certification exams for coders in physician |
| settings, including: | | | | practices and the outpatient/facility environment. |
| - Hospitals | | | | It is also the first organization to offer a medical |
| - Doctor's offices | | | | coding certification exam that recognizes medical |
| - Clinics | | | | coders in the payer community. |
| - Outpatient care centers | | | | In short, AAPC's medical coding certifications are |
| - Family practices | | | | nationally recognized by employers seeking ethical, |
| - Nursing homes | | | | accurate, experienced, and professional medical |
| - Group practices | | | | coders. |
| Who is a Certified Professional Coder (CPC)? | | | | |