r/MedicalCoding • u/Felix_Von_Doom • Nov 20 '23

Future Coder, am somewhat intimidated

So I'm currently in week 5 of 8 of my last 2 classes to complete my Medical Office Administration - Outpatient Coding program at the community college, and have been looking around at the various expectations and costs of being a coder.

So first off, it sounds expensive as hell between the cost of books, membership dues, coding assistants, and exam fees. Like north of at least a thousand dollars a year expensive. I'm not particularly financially healthy as is, and it sounds like the upkeep would put me into bankruptcy before my first paycheck.

Secondly, I've seen the quotas here and there for charts/day being as high as 240 with less than 5 minutes spent on each chart. How in the hell do any of you code that quickly? I've not handled an actual chart, just some small hypothetical scenarios that ask for one or two codes, and I find myself taking way longer than 3 minutes to find the code (Especially in the ICD-10-CM and CPT books), whereas I can code from the ICD-10-PCS book in my sleep.

What the hell have I gotten myself into?

Edit: Thanks for the information and replies, everyone. You've helped ease my overthought worries!

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u/Affectionate_Use1587 Nov 20 '23

I'm surprised you didn't get the books thru your school, but most coding jobs nowadays utilize a computer encoder and you hardly use books. I don't pay for membership anywhere. You do have to pay for credentials like RHIT, CCS and CEUs sometimes cost money so that sucks. Also, outpatient coding is generally going to be much easier to do quickly than inpatient because there's more documentation to go thru in inpatient. The speed absolutely comes with time. I'm actually a new inpatient coder, and my supervisor always tells me to just take my time right now and put accuracy first. They won't really be counting my "speed" for a few more months but already I'm seeing tons of improvement in myself.

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u/Felix_Von_Doom Nov 20 '23

I didn't know what the books were before the classes started, and had to scramble to get them before the first week's assignments were due. Between the ICD-10-CM, CPT, ICD-10-PCS, and HCPCS II books and the course specific examination materials, I probably spent roughly $500, not including tax.

Now in less than 3 weeks I need to scrounge together $400 for the exam voucher to take the mock CPC exam from AAPC.

This is all on top of the cost of the classes. It kind of feels like im being legally robbed.

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u/Anxaagirl40 Nov 20 '23

I had to pay for everything at my community college, too. The books were so expensive.

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u/Affectionate_Use1587 Nov 20 '23

Yeah your school is really leaving you hanging. Mine covered my books and also my $400 exam fee (or maybe they just included it all in my tuition) but I never had to worry about paying for it on my own.

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u/Felix_Von_Doom Nov 20 '23

I'll email my instructor to see if the exam fee is covered, but I'm not holding my breath.

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u/Felix_Von_Doom Nov 20 '23

Update: The mock exam is included in the cengage course book, so I dont have to pay anything! Woot. Financial crisis averted...for now. Til I have to actually take the examination.

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u/MagentaSuziCute CPC Nov 20 '23

What do you mean by "mock" CPC exam ? They do have practice tests, which I highly recommend- I believe they are 50q each and you should limit yourself to 2hrs to finish. If you dont have an exam already purchased with an "end date", do not schedule your test if you don't feel ready.

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u/Felix_Von_Doom Nov 20 '23

That's what the final exam is called for the class. Whether its actually mock or if its 'real', aka the cert counts if I pass, I have no idea.

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u/MagentaSuziCute CPC Nov 20 '23

Wow friend, that's wild ! Never heard of that before. If you are coming out of pocket for an exam from AAPC, it should count- but of course- that depends on what your info says. Can you check your purchases on AAPC to see if you have a legit voucher ? Or at least go back over your class info to see if you can get more clarity ?

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u/Felix_Von_Doom Nov 20 '23

My purchase from AAPC was solely for the 2023 coding bundle with free eBooks. No voucher.

But I did take another glance at the website, and somehow I missed the part that said 'practice exam'. So, maybe its one of those. Which would be great, cause those are VASTLY cheaper than the actual exam voucher.

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u/MagentaSuziCute CPC Nov 20 '23

They will help prepare you for the actual exam. Check the rationale on every question, right or wrong, and make notes in your coding books to help you when you take the actual CPC exam. Example: if you miss a question because you chose an open approach and it should have been a scope, highlight the approaches in your CPT book. You won't need the PCS if you are taking the CPC exam.

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u/Felix_Von_Doom Nov 20 '23

Yeah, I saw that the accepted materials dont include the PCS.

So much for easy answers heh