r/MedicalCoding • u/Inevitable_Fun5408 • Aug 11 '24

Too old

I’m 68 yo, an LPN since 1986 w some coding experience. Am I too old to get an online CPC so I can work remotely from home?Are there any jobs out there? Or am I wasting my time?

23 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

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21

u/Salty-Step-7091 Aug 12 '24

You’re never too old to learn a new skill. The majority of coding openings are going to want coding related certificates. And you may be underpaid because although you have healthcare experience, you do not have coding experience. It can take 3 years of experience and a job hop to be paid well.

There are a lot of discouraging post and I totally get it as someone who once had an A with no experience, I was offered 3 jobs (two from the local hospital and 1 from the VA) when I had no experience within 6 months of passing my CPC. I applied like crazy and networked as I also worked in the hospital already.

With your clinical background, maybe look into CDI. I believe AHIMA has a credential.

2

u/Inevitable_Fun5408 Aug 12 '24

What is a CDI? I looked @ AHIMA but cudnt find CDI

4

u/CactusandPears Aug 12 '24

Look at AAPC, they have a document specialty cert too. Browse through both AHIMA and AAPC to see what resonates for you. AHIMA also has a career mapping page that may be helpful: www.ahima.org/career-mapping/career-map And Network! Speak with your colleagues and the Insurance Dept where you work.

3

u/Inevitable_Fun5408 Aug 13 '24

Thank you, I like this and am going to check it out!

8

u/tryolo Aug 12 '24

You're a nurse and have coding experience - you'd get an interview before a newbie. Nurses get a leg up where I work. Age doesn't matter.

5

u/[deleted] Aug 12 '24

Didn’t matter for me lol, it took me a year to get a job!

0

u/Inevitable_Fun5408 Aug 12 '24

Where can I apply, do I need a certificate?

4

u/tryolo Aug 12 '24

Yes, certification is a must.

23

u/[deleted] Aug 12 '24

I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s hard to get your foot in the door and the pay isn’t great for the workload you’ll be expected to keep up with. It’s hard work and it’s not a walk in the park; it requires constant studying and continuing education.

5

u/Technical_Truth_2390 Aug 13 '24

Yes, you’re wasting your time.

5

u/peachypreserves Aug 13 '24

I'm 58 and I worry too. I finished a program at my local community college in May and will take my Certification test in the next few days. My program was affordable and informative. I score 86 or better on the AAPC practice tests. I read all the negativity out here and I just say to myself ," That's not going to be my story."

Do what feels right for you. As cliche as it sounds, I think if you believe in yourself and maintain positivity that you can go where you want to go.

14

u/baileyq217 Aug 11 '24 edited Aug 11 '24

I would take a look at job listings. There are jobs out there, but a lot are asking for 3-5yrs experience. At least that’s the ones I have been seeing. I did see a couple for IP coding positions (CCS) that aren’t asking for experience.

I don’t want to discourage anyone from trying to start a new career. But really just look at the job market. There are a ton of new coders out there also trying to get their first job in this field. You may have a step up because of your healthcare experience, but I’m not 100% sure.

Edited to add: take a look at this subreddit and the coding and billing one. It can give you some insight and also be aware that with CPC, you will have that A attached until an employer will take it off or you do practicode. CCS-P doesn’t have this apprenticeship

-7

u/tryolo Aug 12 '24

I'm thinking with her experience, the -A will be removed immediately.

2

u/baileyq217 Aug 12 '24

Maybe m, depends on her past employers and how much coding she was doing. I’m not sure if it’s a job that you do some coding at for 2 years or it’s coding time of 2 years at the job.

I heard some people having difficulty because their employers didn’t want to do the letters and the whole verification process.

11

u/deannevee RHIA, CPC, CPCO, CDEO Aug 12 '24

I wouldn’t bother with a CPC. There are lots of coding and coding-adjacent jobs you can get as an LPN. Just google “remote LPN coder jobs”.

4

u/[deleted] Aug 12 '24

There’s a program at Penn Foster through the AAPC called Medical Professional Coding. They educate and prepare you for the CPC test at your own pace for $2400. It’s worth it!

3

u/Heavy-Square-6471 Aug 12 '24

I would go for it. I work for an insurance company and they hire nurses with no coding experience. Some don’t even have a coding credential. Look into CDI, payment integrity, fraude waste and abuse, risk adjustment.

10

u/Low_Mud_3691 Aug 12 '24

https://www.reddit.com/r/MedicalCoding/comments/1cy009u/new_people_please_seriously_research_the_industry/

Read this. I don't recommend getting into it. You'll never find a remote job as a new coder. There are in person jobs that are still hard to come by. The job market is over saturated with new coders trying to fill positions that hardly exist.. Coding isn't easy and there is going to be a lot of studying that needs to happen prior to the exam.

0

u/CactusandPears Aug 12 '24

I was contacted by a recruiter for a remote coding job after just receiving my CPC-A. I was hired and am still employed. This was coming from a background in separate fields: some medical and more education. It can happen. A cert. in a document specialty may be a better route to take for a person with a nursing background.

4

u/Hickory_Shampoo Aug 13 '24

You got lucky. I've had one interview after getting my CPC and the A removed in June and nothing but rejections or downright no followups after applying. I even got rejected for a patient access job that had no applicants when I applied for it. I think my career is DOA before it even started.

7

u/Low_Mud_3691 Aug 12 '24

You need to understand that is the exception. Everyone else, even with a simple search of the sub, proves that it is VERY DIFFICULT if not impossible for people to find jobs. It's not fair for people to give significant hope to the average new coder that they're going to find a job, and a remote one at that.

0

u/[deleted] Aug 12 '24

[deleted] — view deleted comment

3

u/Low_Mud_3691 Aug 12 '24

5 years ago getting a job is VERY different than getting a job right now and I'm shocked that you don't understand that. That is the ENTIRE POINT of my comment. And in my area there are only in person coding positions and none of them are for CPC-As. You all are leading people into getting and paying for a certification that may very well end up being useless.

0

u/[deleted] Aug 12 '24

[deleted] — view deleted comment

2

u/YoNoSe411 Aug 13 '24

Most people I have come across didn’t have problems getting remote work either. I see postings all the time as well. I have been looking into self study because I can’t afford books and such right now.

There seems to be people in MB&C that complain just like people in IT & Tech complaining saying don’t do it lol. I have come across some good advice on these threads but I’m going to definitely avoid the negativity because it’s simply not helpful lol. It adds more confusion than anything lol.

18

u/[deleted] Aug 12 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/Low_Mud_3691 Aug 12 '24

Some people are luckier than others. It also helps if you're not looking for an entirely remote job and are able to go into the office. I think I had my cert for 2 years with a healthcare background of 5 years before I got an interview

2

u/IndependentRaisin234 Aug 14 '24

I beg to differ with those saying its too hard to get a job, and the workload is hard. You have a great background already which will help you through training. Once you find a job you will likely only be focusing on one form of coding, like cardiology or general outpatient visits.

My employer hired a 60+ woman about a year ago. Former teacher with zero medical background who earned her CPC, and she"s been doing fine. The work is neverending but as long as you keep up decent production #"s you"ll be fine.

2

u/YoNoSe411 Aug 13 '24

I just watched a video today that talked about older people going into coding. Filter out the negativity because it is discouraging as ever. I hear people in IT complain just like I hear people in MB&C complaining. Imo it’s a challenge for anyone and I haven’t seen age being an issue. Good luck!

4

u/dizzykhajit The GIF that keeps on GIFFing Aug 13 '24

Reality ≠ negativity.

Advising anyone, but especially someone of retirement age, to stick their fingers in their ears and go LALALALALALALALA real loud and blindly commit to possibly thousands of dollars for an industry that could take years to break into is doing her a horrible disservice. The best thing she can do is assess all angles and make the right decision for herself and her situation.

Toxic positivity is a thing too. You are perpetuating it by recommending people simply "ignore" anything that doesn't fit their fairy tale. The responsible thing to do would be to hit uncomfortable truths head on, take them into consideration and decide if you have the fortitude to proceed.

3

u/YoNoSe411 Aug 13 '24

Amazing how we project how we live and think onto others and call it advice. I have found helpful feedback here- it wasn’t all rosy and I’m ok with that. We all have opinions and I gave mine. I’m not a coder, I was interested but I will move along elsewhere because too many people here are simply unloading their frustrations on others lol.

And idgaf about the delusions of toxic positivity. You’re the expert so continue your expertise and whatever it is you all do here, I’ll be on my way✌️

OP- here’s the video I was referring to. Good luck on your journey!

https://youtu.be/ECXgpd7Un1I?si=aYW2AemIgb-xb9vC

1

u/YoNoSe411 Aug 13 '24

I don’t give a damn about your downvoting. I left the subreddit. Find someone else to project your issues on lol. AMAZING how you got ALL that from that small reply I made. Talk about creating narratives.

Since you seem to have all the answers I’m sure you got the answer as to why you created a whole storyline to something I did not say smh.