Advanced Hospital Coding and CCS Prep (Voucher Included)

Facility coding (hospital coding) is one of the best-paying sectors of the coding profession. If you're already performing some aspect of facility coding, the Advanced Hospital Coding (AHC) course will fill in the gaps, making you a more marketable employee. If you're currently working in a physician's office or other ambulatory care setting, this course will give you the edge you need to advance in the workplace.

Hospital coding is rarely an entry-level position, and most hospital coders are...

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6 Months / 100 Course Hrs
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Advanced Hospital Coding and CCS Prep (Voucher Included)

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Course code: GES104

What you will learn

  • Identify the roles and responsibilities of a coder in both inpatient and outpatient facilities
  • Abstract health information from clinical documentation using your knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy/physiology, and disease processes.
  • Assign ICD-10-CM/PCS and CPT/ HCPCS Level II codes and modifiers in accordance with current coding guidelines.
  • Understand reimbursement methodologies
  • Clarify conflicting, ambiguous, or missing information from health records by querying the physician
  • Participate in clinical documentation improvement initiatives to ensure accurate and complete health data

How you will benefit

  • Acquire the skills to successfully complete the American Health Information Management Association's (AHIMA) mastery-level credentialing exam, the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
  • Increase your earning potential in coding by learning a new skill set
  • Take advantage of booming employment and advancement opportunities in medical coding
  • Become an essential part of the healthcare industry

How the course is taught

  • Self-paced, online course
  • 6 Months to complete
  • Open enrollment, begin anytime
  • 100 course hours
  1. Hospital Structure, Billing, and Insurance
    1. Introduction
    2. Hospital Structure and Organization
    3. Revenue and Reimbursement
    4. Payment Methods
    5. Cost Controls
    6. Healthcare Payers
    7. UB-04 and CMS-1500 Claim Forms
  2. Ethics and HIPAA Administrative Simplification
    1. Introduction
    2. Ethics
    3. HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules
    4. Electronic Data Interchange
    5. HIPAA Safeguards
    6. Fraud and Abuse
  3. Inpatient Acute Care Diagnosis Coding
    1. Introduction
    2. Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set (UHDDS)
    3. Medical Record Documentation
    4. Electronic Health Record (EHR)
    5. ICD-10-CM Layout and Navigation
    6. ICD-10-CM Guidelines
    7. Diagnostic Coding Steps
  4. Regulatory Guidelines and Reporting Requirements for Inpatient Care
    1. Introduction
    2. ICD-10-CM Chapter-Specific Guidelines
    3. Principal and Additional Diagnoses
    4. Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRGs)
    5. Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems (IPPS)
    6. Complications and Comorbidities (MCC and CC)
    7. Present on Admission (POA) and Hospital-Acquired Conditions (HAC)
    8. Reporting Requirements and Physician Queries
  5. ICD-10-PCS Inpatient Procedure Coding
    1. Introduction
    2. ICD-10-PCS Organization and Structure
    3. ICD-10-PCS Root Operations
    4. ICD-10-PCS Guidelines
    5. ICD-10-PCS Sections
  6. Outpatient Coding: CPT and HCPCS Level II
    1. Introduction
    2. Outpatient Reimbursement Systems
    3. Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)
    4. Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APCs)
    5. Outpatient Code Editor (OCE)
    6. National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI)
    7. CPT Code Categories
    8. Evaluation and Management (E/M) Codes
    9. Anesthesiology, Surgery, Radiology, Pathology/Laboratory, and Medicine Sections
    10. CPT Appendices
    11. Modifiers
    12. HCPCS Level II
  7. Data Quality, Compliance, and Auditing
    1. Introduction
    2. Data Quality
    3. Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI)
    4. Coding Compliance
    5. Internal and External Coding Audits
  8. Career Roadmap
    1. Introduction
    2. Succeeding in a Gig Economy
    3. Your Skills and Qualifications
    4. Resume and Cover Letter
    5. Using Email and Social Media
    6. Connecting with Others
    7. The Interview
    8. Salary Negotiation
  9. CCS Exam Preparation
    1. Introduction
    2. Exam Eligibility
    3. The CCS Exam
    4. Coding Review Resources

Carline Dalgleish

Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems, a master's degree in Leadership, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Health Information Management. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator and an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Dalgleish is the author of an ICD-10 coding system and also owns her own consulting firm.

Bunny Reeves

Bunny Reeves is the senior ambulatory surgery coder at the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She trains student coders at Maimonides Medical Center and previously trained and supervised entry-level coders at Staten Island's St. Vincent Medical Center. Reeves is a Certified Coding Specialist, accredited by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Prerequisites:

This is not an entry-level course. Before taking this course, you should have previous coding experience or education and have completed either the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant with Medical Billing and Coding course or the Medical Billing and Coding course.

Although it is not required, CCS exam candidates are recommended to meet one of the following qualifications:

  • By Credential: RHIA®, RHIT®, or CCS-P® OR
  • By Education with Experience: The following courses MUST be completed; anatomy & physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical terminology, reimbursement methodology, intermediate/advanced ICD diagnostic/procedural, and CPT/HCPCS coding plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes; OR
  • By Experience: Minimum of two (2) years of related coding experience directly applying codes; OR
  • By Credential with Experience: CCA® plus one (1) year of coding experience directly applying codes; OR
  • Other Coding credential from other certifying organization plus one (1) year coding experience directly applying codes.

If you do not qualify for the CCS exam, you may still be eligible for the Certified Coding Associate (CCA®) an entry-level certification exam offered by AHIMA or the American Association of Professional Coders Apprentice level certification, the Certified Professional Coder Apprentice (CPC-A) or Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC™). This course will prepare you for those certifications as well, and you'll find more information about them in the Certification Prep lesson at the end of the course. Certification exams offered by AAPC and NHA are only available online to candidates located in the US. AHIMA only offers in-person exams in both the US and Globally.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

  • This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

  • PC: Windows 8 or later.
  • Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
  • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader.
  • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

  • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The following eBooks will be provided to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

  • Coding and Reimbursement for Hospital Inpatient Services (1yr access to eBook)

The following item is included with the course and will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:

  • Professional Review Guide Online for the CCS/CCS-P Examination (1yr digital access)

The following materials are required for the Advanced Hospital Coding & CCS Prep Course. Before purchasing, please check the AHIMA website for the Allowable Code Books List for the CCS certification examination. You will need the current year's version of:

  • Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) (not included)
  • Healthcare Professional Coding System (HCPCS) Level II (not included)
  • ICD-10-CM (not included)
  • ICD-10-PCS (not included)

Please note: You will receive a digital book if the physical book is on backorder.

Yes, the Advanced Hospital Coding course prepares students to sit for the Certified Coding Specialist exam offered by AHIMA.

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, you'll receive six (6) months to complete the course.

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion.

This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

This course is non-credit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements. Financing is available from select schools. Learn more about financial assistance.

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us" form.

American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is an organization dedicated to the professional development of those in the health information management industry. AHIMA has been on the cutting edge of data analytics and informatics since its founding in 1928. Today it is the leading association in the field, with more than 103,000 members. AHIMA provides the latest resources for health information professionals and helps them advance their skills and knowledge through its globally recognized certifications. A credential from AHIMA is one of the best you can get in the health information industry.