Billing license medical

The only requirement for the CCA exam, in addition to AHIMA membership and an application fee, is a high school diploma or an equivalent educational background. To pass the exam, AHIMA recommends that you have at least six months of experience applying coding at a healthcare organization, have attended an AHIMA-approved coding certificate program, or have completed another formal coding training program. If you are interested in the more specialized CCS or CCS-P exams, AHIMA strongly recommends that you obtain at least three years of experience in a hospital or other physician-based setting where you can apply coding systems to various cases.

They also recommend that you complete coursework in anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology, or be able to demonstrate proficiency in those areas. Getting certified through the AAPC requires an organizational membership and examination fee. The AAPC recommends applicants first earn an associate degree.

However, unless you have at least two years of medical coding experience, you will be designated as an apprentice upon passing your exam. You can find out more about AAPC and its medical coding certification requirements on its website. Call or have a career counselor call you. Certification Toggle Menu. Overview Medical Coding Certification. Prepare for Exam Register for Exam. Billing Regulations. Case Analysis. No other publisher is allowed.

Sold Out. Pay examination fee at the time of application submission. Maintain current membership with the AAPC. New members must submit membership payment with examination application.

Renewing members must have a current membership at the time of submission and when exam results are released. Those applying for CPB credentials should prepare for each component of the exam, paying specific attention to laws like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or the False Claims Act. All manuals must be for the current calendar years.

The CPB exam is proctored. Examinees have five hours and 40 minutes to answer multiple-choice questions. Topics cover varying health plans, billing regulations, claim forms, and insurance payment policies. The test explores the use of coding resources, compliance with privacy laws, and requirements for medical record retention. Other topics include reimbursement, collections, appeals, denials, accounts receivable, and electronic claim submission. While medical billing programs usually feature compact completion timelines, coding certifications take longer to earn.

Coding programs generally require students to complete the equivalent of courses, which typically takes academic years. As with billing, professionals do not strictly require medical coding certifications to find work. However, coders with industry-standard coding certifications typically have an easier time finding jobs.

They also tend to earn higher salaries. Successful medical coders display a common set of hard and soft skills. Academic programs develop some of these skills, while others are intuitive and innate.

Certifications verify an individual's knowledge of the codes that identify medical services, procedures and supplies for purposes of billing and reimbursement. Code sets undergo regular updates, so continuing education and training programs can help professionals maintain their certified status as coding systems evolve.

Specialty credentials confirm the expertise of experienced coders in specific medical disciplines ranging from cardiology to anesthesia. These certifications focus on specialized procedures and regulations, including Medicare billing guidelines and the codes commonly used for a variety of disciplines. Medical billers and coders review healthcare service delivery records to generate bills and insurance claims for processing.

They play integral roles in healthcare revenue cycle management, ensuring that providers receive due compensation and patients' insurance covers eligible expenses. The American Academy of Professional Coders tracks earnings among credentialed professionals. Medical coders draw on patient records and doctors' reports to determine which billable procedures were used in a care delivery cycle.

Billers then use that information to generate bills, invoices, and insurance claims. Medical billing programs usually take the equivalent of weeks of full-time study to complete. Coding programs are longer, usually taking academic years.