CDIS are key team members of any hospital’s revenue cycle operation. CDIS ensure that the provider’s documentation captures all clinical information completely and accurately. The documentation must then be translated into codes in accordance with the conventions of the classification and the Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, in order to be processed for data and billing purposes.
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by Mary Beth York, CCS, CCS-P, CIC AHIMA’s CCS and CCA certification exams will be updated to 2019 code sets and guidelines on May 1, 2019. (Through April 30, 2019, AHIMA’s CCS and CCA exams will test on the 2018 code sets and guidelines.) According to the AHIMA website, the beta period for the CCS […]
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by Mary Beth York, CCS, CCS-P Senior Associate at Barry Libman Inc. and Libman Education The CCS exam tests your acute hospital inpatient and outpatient coding skills at a mastery level. It is recommended (but not mandated) that you have at least three years actual hospital inpatient and surgical outpatient coding experience. The successful candidate […]
read more »by Mary Beth York, CCS, CCS-P, CIC The CCS exam tests your acute hospital inpatient and outpatient coding skills at a mastery level. It is recommended (but not mandated) that you have at least three years hands-on acute hospital experience coding inpatient and outpatient records. The successful candidate will also demonstrate proficiency in anatomy and […]
read more »by Mary Beth York, CCS, CCS-P
I recently had the opportunity to work with a team of Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) Specialists to help them prepare for the CCS … Read more
read more »The power of the group is amazing and should not be underestimated. When attempting a CCS, which anyone who has will tell you is a daunting process, it helps to have others going through the same effort at the …
read more »by Mary Beth York, CCS, CCS-P, CIC After months of anxious waiting on the part of CCS candidates, immediate scoring is now available. Immediate scoring became available for test-takers starting September 4. For those who took the CCS exam May 1 through September 3 there is still one more step in the process that must be […]
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by Mary Beth York, CCS, CCS-P, CIC It is helpful sometimes to think of coding as a language. The language consists of the ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, and CPT code sets primarily. This language of coding has rules, similar to grammar, that govern how it is used and applied. It also has inconsistencies and internal conflicts, much […]
read more »by Mary Beth York, CCS, CCS-P, CIC The beta period for AHIMA CCS and CCA certification exams ended on 5/31/2018 but both exams are currently in the data validation process. According to AHIMA, the data validation process can take 12-24 weeks; therefore results may not be available until August. Once the data validation process ends, […]
read more »by Mary Beth York, CCS, CCS-P, CIC AHIMA has announced the end of the beta period for the 2018 Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) and the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) coding credential exams. Immediate scoring will now be available to candidates upon completion of the exam. During the beta period, candidates do not receive immediate results […]
read more »Having taught CCS Exam Prep for many years, I see three keys to CCS success. The keys are …
read more »I am often asked by prospective CCS candidates: “When is the CCS exam changing to reflect the new codes?” Great question. First a little background.
read more »My advice: study your guidelines; know them inside and out; know how to …
read more »I love to hear from former students! After our time together during the exam prep I miss them. I heard recently from one such student, “By going through the class and passing the CCS, my confidence and quality in my coding has improved tremendously!”
read more »There are several reasons why a CDIS should consider earning their CCS: …
read more »by Mary Beth York, CCS, CCS-P, CIC Earning your CCS is a hugely ambitious goal. It takes planning and real effort. Having taught CCS Exam Prep for many years, I see three keys to CCS success. The keys are foundational knowledge of the code sets, in-depth knowledge of the guidelines, and comfort in using the […]
read more »Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists (CDIS) are often clinicians and well versed in the language of medicine. I recommend that CDI Specialists need also to master the language of coding, in order to …
read more »Mock exams for coding credential exams have become increasingly popular as a way to ensure that the credential candidate is truly ready for the exam. Let me offer a few tips to help you decide which mock exam is right for you:
read more »The process of preparing for the CCS is daunting. So much to learn! So much to memorize! It can be achieved, hundreds do each year, but …
read more »I heard recently from a former (successful!) CCS Exam prep student to report that she is doing very well. “Since obtaining my CCS I still work at the hospital full time and have also been working part time remotely for over a year now and loving it! Having my CCS certification has …
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