Reasons Your Practice Would Benefit From a Certified Coder

If your medical practice has a medical billing and coding team in house, it is important you understand what a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) is and what the benefits of having a certified coder on staff are. Just as you wouldn’t trust your medical care to a person without a medical degree, you should not trust your medical coding to someone who has not earned the title of CPC. The CPC is the gold standard for medical coding and a must when it comes to selecting the right person for the job. Why Should I Work With a Certified Coder? It has been estimated that there are over 105,000 individuals in the U.S. that have received the certified coder certificate. These individuals are considered experts when it comes to maintaining both the profitability of a medical practice and compliance. In this day and age, the fines or penalties for non-compliance can be exuberant. In order to remain compliant with your medical billing and coding, a certified coder is a must. Additionally, certified coders are well versed in profitability, meaning they are trained in techniques to correctly code provider diagnosis and service codes, getting your practice paid faster. In order to earn their certified coder certification, program graduates are trained and examined on the following code sets:

• CPT
• ICD-10CM
• HCPCS Level III

Furthermore, CPC’s are experts in evaluation and management principles, surgical coding, and documentation and coding guidelines. This rigorous training is beneficial to your practice because working with a certified coder has been known to reduce denials, getting your practice paid quicker. Healthcare Changes are Increasing Demand for Certified Coders The healthcare industry is no stranger to change. With new rules and regulations being introduced regularly, such as ICD-11 on the horizon, the need for certified coders is increasing. In fact, the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) has estimated that by year 2022, the demand for certified professional coders will have increased by 22 percent. This demand is due to the increased need for coding and compliance professionals who are proficient across a wide range of services, from coding guidelines to integrating medical coding and policy changes into a practice’s reimbursement process. Let AMS Help If your practice could benefit from the knowledge of a certified professional coder, let Applied Medical Systems (AMS) help. Our team of certified coders have not only received extensive training and certification through the AAPC, but also stay up-to-date on new coding and industry changes. To learn more, visit our website and request a free quote to get started.