What is the difference between ccs and cpc h certification

Diagnosis and procedure coding comprises the largest portion of the exam at up to 68 percent of the questions. In addition, CCSs must complete an annual coding self-assessment.

In fact, the CMC has an exam format that is thought to be more difficult than the other two exams which are multiple choice. Prior to completing the CPC exam, applicants should have at least one year of professional experience in medical coding.

PMI offers an introductory course called Principles of Coding for inexperienced coders. Rather, examinees must assess coding scenarios and be able to fill in the blanks accurately. The CMC exam is also only offered in a live, proctored setting. The CMC exam consists of approximately questions. Examinees must earn a minimum of 70 percent in order to become certified. However, in order to open more doors for career advancement and higher salaries, many medical coders choose to specialize even further.

The COC exam and certification indicate a high level of competency in coding specific to hospital groups, ambulatory surgical centers, and hospital billing and coding departments. The CIC certification, as the name suggests, is targeted to those working or wishing to work in inpatient settings.

While medical coders have typically worked in healthcare provider settings, increasingly health insurance companies and other healthcare payers are employing their own coders. The CRC certification is specific to those coders working in the risk adjustment sector. The CCA certification is appropriate for entry level coders in both hospital and physician office settings.

A high school diploma as well as six months of professional coding experience are recommended prior to taking the CCA exam. The CCS-P has similar requirements to the CCS, but is specific to those working in physician offices, group practices, or clinics rather than hospitals. Although most medical coding certifications do not require that applicants have a specific academic degree, those prospective medical coders who want to increase their value—particularly at the entry-level—may want to consider an accredited college program.

Many colleges and universities offer professional certificates in medical coding, which are separate from the certification outlined above. What is it that you wanted to do? Do a lot of people have both? The CPC-H is focused more towards facility outpatient, and the biggest difference in that is a little bit of usage and modifiers.

AAPC they expect us to understand even though we may not always have our fingers in that pie, they expect us to understand the reimbursement side of the facility coding.

What happens if we put in CPC code that has the status indicator of C on that? You do have to know some very specific reimbursement issues for the facility just like if you were studying for the CPC exam , you need to know some reimbursement issues or positions.

My personal opinion is, if the jobs you are looking at require a CCS, you are looking at the wrong jobs. The CCS tests mastery level knowledge of both in and outpatient coding.

Last edited: Feb 17, Thanks for all of the advice. I have been coding in a physicians office for 3 years and finally had the time and energy to take the CPC exam and passed. However, I was hoping to find a remote coding job so that I could do some work from home, but it seems that all of the remote jobs want you to have the CCS credentials. I guess I should have been more specific in my original post. Are there remote jobs out there for those of us who have only CPC credentials?

Honestly, the problem isn't necessarily the CPC, its the fact that you only have physician office experience. Most remote companies have contracts with hospitals, so they are looking for coders who have facility experience. ErikAZ Guest. For ways to move into hospitals there are many. I am a coding supervisor with 46 direct reports in a three hospital network. One way would be to get into the door coding ED charts or something similar then ask to be cross-trained on inpatient.

Getting the foot in the door is the most important step and the most difficult but once you get in and prove you're a good worker hospitals will generally go out of their way to train and retain you. Coders are worth their weight in gold in a hospital.