A rewarding career in the healthcare industry is just a few steps away with medical coding specialty certifications. By becoming a certified professional in a particular medical field, you can unlock better job opportunities, higher salaries, and increased expertise. Are you ready to embark on this exciting journey? Let’s dive into the world of medical coding specialties and learn how to choose the right certification for you!
Key Takeaways
- Medical coding specialties are essential for the healthcare industry, offering improved job prospects and salaries.
- Popular certifying organizations include AAPC, AHIMA, and PMI with specialty certifications such as CCC, CEDC, and CIRCC.
- Job opportunities in a variety of settings exist with salary expectations influenced by certification level, experience & location.
Overview of Medical Coding Specialties
Medical coding specialties are of paramount importance in the healthcare industry, ensuring accurate medical billing services and insurance processing, as well as aiding research and maintaining patient records. Pursuing a medical coding certification allows you to gain expertise in a variety of fields within this profession such as cardiology, emergency department, or interventional radiology, all of which utilize a medical coding system.
The primary organizations that certify medical coding specialties are the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), and Practice Management Institute (PMI).
Importance of Specialization
Obtaining a medical coding specialty certification can lead to numerous benefits, including improved job prospects, higher remuneration, and career advancement. Specializing in a specific medical field like Bariatric Surgery, Cardiology, or Pediatrics enhances your expertise in various medical procedures, including surgical procedures performed, and increases your value in the healthcare industry. This not only makes you more attractive to potential employers but also increases your earning potential.
In fact, certified medical coders in the US receive an average salary of $47,200 annually.
Types of Medical Coding Specialties
Medical coding specialties cater to a wide range of interests, allowing professionals to focus on specific areas they find rewarding and fulfilling. Some popular medical coding specialties include Certified Cardiology Coder (CCC), Certified Emergency Department Coder (CEDC), and Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder (CIRCC). These specialties involve working with various medical codes to ensure accurate documentation and billing.
While foundational certifications, like Certified Professional Coder (CPC), provide a comprehensive understanding of billing and coding principles, specialty certifications enable you to demonstrate proficiency in particular medical fields, further enhancing your career prospects.
Certifying Organizations for Medical Coding Specialties
There are three main organizations that offer medical coding specialty certifications: AAPC, AHIMA, and PMI. Each organization has its own set of certifications and requirements, catering to various interests and career goals within the medical coding profession.
We will now delve into the certifications offered by each of these organizations.
American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
As the largest certifying organization for medical coding, the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) offers a wide range of specialty certifications for experienced coders. Their certifications focus on specific medical fields and procedures, such as Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Outpatient Coder (COC), Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC), and Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC).
To maintain your AAPC certification, you must fulfill a minimum of 36 hours of approved Continuing Education Units (CEUs) within a two-year period.
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) offers specialized medical coding certifications, including entry-level and physician-based options, with a focus on inpatient and outpatient settings. Some of their certifications include Certified Coding Specialist (CCS), Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P), and Certified Coding Associate (CCA). Each certification has its own set of requirements, such as completing necessary training or education, passing the certification exam, and upholding the specialty certification.
Practice Management Institute (PMI)
The Practice Management Institute (PMI) provides three certifications for medical coders: Certified Medical Coder (CMC), Certified Medical Insurance Specialist (CMIS), and Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM). The CMC certification is increasingly recognized as a comparable certification to CPC and CCS, showcasing proficiency in medical coding across various healthcare settings.
Obtaining any of these certifications helps demonstrate your knowledge and expertise in the medical coding field.
Popular Medical Coding Specialty Certifications
Some of the most popular medical coding specialty certifications include Certified Cardiology Coder (CCC), Certified Emergency Department Coder (CEDC), and Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder (CIRCC). Each of these certifications showcases expertise in a specific medical field, leading to better job opportunities and higher salaries for certified professionals.
We’ll delve deeper into each of these certifications.
Certified Cardiology Coder (CCC)
The CCC certification demonstrates expertise in cardiology coding, ensuring that medical billing services and insurance carriers can accurately process and pay claims for cardiology-related procedures and services. Obtaining this certification paves the way for better job opportunities and higher salaries in the field of cardiology.
To be eligible for the CCC certification, you must have a minimum of two years of cardiac coding experience and successfully complete the 100-question, four-hour exam.
Certified Emergency Department Coder (CEDC)
The CEDC certification validates proficiency in emergency department coding, ensuring accurate billing and reimbursement for emergency services. To obtain this certification, you must:
- Have a minimum of two years of experience in emergency department coding
- Demonstrate proficiency in applying accurate ICD-10-CM codes
- Successfully complete the CEDC exam.
Gaining the CEDC certification offers several advantages, such as improved coding abilities, more job prospects, and accurate reimbursement for healthcare providers.
Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder (CIRCC)
The CIRCC certification showcases mastery in interventional radiology cardiovascular coding, a highly specialized and in-demand field. This certification demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of common diagnoses and procedures in interventional radiology cardiovascular coding, making you an invaluable asset to healthcare providers.
To become a CIRCC, you must pass the CIRCC exam, which consists of a minimum of 70 questions related to interventional radiology cardiovascular coding, and maintain your certification by obtaining 24 CEUs every two years that are specific to interventional radiology and cardiovascular coding.
Steps to Pursue a Medical Coding Specialty Certification
Pursuit of a medical coding specialty certification involves several steps:
- Assessing your interests and experience
- Completing relevant training or education
- Preparing for and passing the certification exam
- Maintaining your specialty certification through continuing education.
We’ll dissect each of these steps to provide a clearer understanding of the process involved in obtaining a medical coding specialty certification.
Assess Your Interests and Experience
Evaluating your personal interests and previous healthcare industry experience is a crucial step before choosing a medical coding specialty. Are you passionate about a specific medical field? Have you gained experience in a particular clinical specialty? By considering your interests and experience, you can make an informed decision about which medical coding specialty certification aligns with your career goals and expertise.
Remember, choosing a specialty that matches your passion and expertise can greatly impact your job satisfaction and overall career success.
Complete Relevant Training or Education
After identifying your desired medical coding specialty, completing a relevant medical coding program or education is essential to build a strong foundation in your chosen field. This may include college professional certificates or degrees in health information technology or management, as well as medical coding training courses.
Medical Coding Classes with proper training not only equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills but also ensure regulatory compliance and accurate billing services.
Prepare for and Pass the Certification Exam
A crucial step in obtaining your medical coding specialty certification is to prepare for and pass the certification exam. To adequately prepare, it’s recommended to:
- Complete courses in relevant subjects such as anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical terminology, and reimbursement methodology.
- Take advantage of test prep courses, study materials, and practice exams offered by certifying organizations like AAPC and AHIMA.
- Practice, practice, practice!
Remember, practice makes perfect!
Maintain Your Specialty Certification
Once you’ve obtained your medical coding specialty certification, maintaining it by earning continuing education units (CEUs) and staying updated with industry changes and advancements is essential. Depending on the certifying organization and the specific certification, the CEU requirements may vary.
Staying informed of the latest updates in medical coding and participating in ongoing training is essential to keep your skills sharp and remain an asset to your organization.
Job Opportunities and Salary Expectations for Medical Coding Specialists
The job opportunities and salary expectations for medical coding specialists depend on factors such as certification, experience, and location. Specialized coders often enjoy better job prospects and earn higher salaries compared to their non-specialized counterparts.
As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, the demand for skilled medical coding specialists is expected to grow by 8 percent between 2022 and 2032.
Job Titles and Settings
Medical coding specialists can work in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, insurance companies, and government agencies. Some common job titles associated with medical coding specialists are Medical Biller, Medical Records Technician, Billing Analyst, and Certified Professional Coder (CPC). With the growing demand in the healthcare industry, medical coding jobs offer numerous opportunities for certified professionals.
Additionally, remote work opportunities are becoming increasingly popular, allowing medical coding specialists to work from the comfort of their own homes while providing essential services to healthcare organizations.
Salary Expectations
Salary expectations for medical coding specialists vary based on factors such as certification, experience, and location. The average salary for a medical coder in the US is $46,660 annually or $22.43 an hour. Specialized coders, such as those with CCC, CEDC, or CIRCC certifications, can expect to earn higher salaries than their non-specialized counterparts.
In addition to certification and experience, the geographic location also plays a significant role in determining a medical coder’s salary, with urban centers typically offering higher pay rates compared to rural areas.
Summary
In conclusion, pursuing a medical coding specialty certification can open the door to exciting career opportunities and higher salaries in the healthcare industry. By assessing your interests and experience, completing relevant training or education, and preparing for and passing the certification exam, you can become a certified professional in your chosen medical field. As the demand for skilled medical coding specialists continues to grow, now is the perfect time to invest in your future and take the first step toward a rewarding career in medical coding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on the most common advice, Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC®), Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM®), Certified Professional Coder (CPC®), Certified Medical Insurance Specialist (CMIS®), and Certified Outpatient Coder (COC®) certifications offer the highest pay for medical coders.
Coding specialists are skilled in classifying medical data from patient records, providing a unique code for each kind of treatment for billing, research, and recordkeeping purposes. They often work in a hospital setting but also have a variety of other healthcare settings, and hold the CCS credential which demonstrates mastery of coding proficiency and data accuracy.
The highest-paying medical coding job is a Medical Coder, with salaries ranging from $41,500 to $76,857.
There are five major medical coding classifications, including ICD-11, ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, and HCPCS Level II. These systems are used to identify and manage medical codes, providing different types of medical coding for professional medical billing and coding.
A medical coding specialty certification can provide numerous benefits, such as increased job opportunities, higher salary potential, and career advancement.