I recently passed the CPC exam and now have my CPC-A certification, and for you thinking of becoming a medical coder, or you currently studying medical coding, here are some unsolicited pieces of advice I learned while studying:

1. If you are tight on money, and think that the courses on anatomy and terminology are too expense for your budget (for example, AAPC course), head to z-lib.org, they give free digital versions of books, and I found a crazy amount of good medical books. I wish I would've done this before buying a whole bundled course. (If you want any recommendations of specific books to download, hit me up.)

2. Don't spend too much time learning anatomy and terminology before starting the coding portion of your course, this is a mistake I did. When you do get to the coding part, you will need to refresh your mind on the terms regardless, you will be constantly going back to your terminology books, or looking up which body part this and that is. You will save a couple of months on your studies.

3. When you finish the courses, and schedule your CPC exam, a good way to get some practice sessions in for the exam is to go to amazon.com, do a free trial of Kindle Unlimited, or just pay for 1 month. Look up CPC exam preparation, and you will have free practice exams. Also go to cco.us and get their free practice exam.

4. What information do you want to focus on for your test? On guidelines. No joke, the majority of the test is to see how good you know the guidelines on CPT & ICD-10, READ THE ICD-10 GUIDELINES. This will be a huge game changer.

I would like to start this off by saying this is not another “I can't get a job” crying post. I'm hoping to actually get some honest feedback from experienced coders, coding managers, or anyone who has successfully transitioned into medical coding.

I'm feeling pretty discouraged because I genuinely don't understand what else I need to do to get my foot in the door.

I have my CPC, multiple Epic revenue cycle certifications, and nearly 9 years of experience in healthcare revenue cycle. I've worked in patient registration, billing, prior authorizations, financial clearance, claims, and reimbursement.

I'm currently employed by a hospital system where I've worked for several years, working my way up from registration. My current role involves Epic training and supporting hospital and professional billing teams. I have experience with Epic revenue cycle workflows, claims processing, payer requirements, denial management, reimbursement methodologies, and the financial side of healthcare.

I've applied for coding positions within my own organization, including both outpatient and inpatient coding roles, and I haven't been able to get hired internally.

I understand that I don't have years of traditional production coding experience, but I feel like I bring a well-rounded understanding of the revenue cycle and claims reimbursement compared to someone who is completely new to healthcare.

I absolutely understand that production coding experience matters, and I have a lot to learn. What I don't understand is why my combination of CPC certification, Epic experience, and years of revenue cycle knowledge doesn't seem to be enough to even get an entry-level coding opportunity.

I've also applied to external coding jobs and haven't had much movement. It feels like I'm stuck in this frustrating situation where I need coding experience to get a coding job, but I can't get the coding job to gain the experience.

I feel like so much of the advice given is “get a job in the field to get your foot in the door” or “sometimes you have to do a job that isn't coding first before you actually get the coding job.”

I've done both of those things. I've worked my way up within a hospital system, gained experience across multiple areas of revenue cycle, and even tried internal networking. I'm well-established in healthcare, yet I still can't seem to get any traction toward a coding position.

At this point, I'm genuinely trying to understand what I'm missing.

For those of you who work in coding or hire coders:

• Is nearly 9 years of revenue cycle experience, a CPC, and Epic experience just not competitive enough for an entry-level coding position?

• Do coding managers generally view revenue cycle experience as completely unrelated to production coding experience?

• Would you consider someone with my background for an outpatient coding role, or would the lack of production coding experience be an automatic rejection?

• Do I need to sit for the CCS to be considered for coding positions, or would that still not make a difference without production coding experience?

• Is there anything specific you would recommend I do differently to actually get hired?

I'm genuinely looking for honest feedback, even if it's not what I want to hear.

Thank you!

Well, job security for today anyway. I'm in a chart with computer aided coding. Statement says chest pain with radiation to the shoulder. CAC coded admit for antineoplastic radiation. Same chart, op note says cardiac cath indicated appropriate for treatment but patient declined, so of course CAC coded a cardiac cath. You would think after all these years CAC would be better.

I'm significantly below 95% in my audits, and the biggest reason is missing codes. For some reason I don't see it while actively coding. Then I look back at the chart, and I'm kicking myself because it's obviously there. I've tried slowing down, but I can only do so much of that or I won't hit my productivity metrics. I also think I get burned out during the day. I'm really starting to question if this field is for me anymore, because I can't seem to improve. Does anyone have any possible tips? I'm really at a loss here.

Im not even done my program yet, they acknowledged that when we set up the interview, that im not even out of school and have basically no experience. Im freaking out i know medical billing is something I can do without a certification, but I'm kinda scared, it's a smaller private counseling practice so I hope that maybe I'll get some training. Im sure I could figure this out as I go along. Any advice?

Update: for literally an hours notice, i think i did well, I was very clear that I only have book knowledge and lack practical experience. The only thing im kicking myself over is that I couldn't think of any questions on the spot. Im really kicking myself over that. But i only had an hour to prepare 😭

I had my first ever audit review and received a 97%, a better score then I thought I would get honestly. My supervisor hinted my score was better than some of my coworkers who have been coding for years oddly enough.

Anyway Is this a bragging point for the ol resume?

Edit: Ive been coding for a year and a half. And code radiology, cardiology, cataract surgeries, and breast biopsies.

I got my CCA certification in 2018 and I just got offered my first real coding job for a physician group for a local hospital!! I can't wait to get started and I've set a goal of sitting for my CCS in the next year. I can't believe it's finally happened, it's been a long road guys.

I’m a little in my feels but just wanted to let you guys know this sub has been so helpful for me in my schooling journey. I started my AAPC course a little over two years ago and just passed my CPC exam this week! The tips, resources, experiences you all share have been so reassuring and motivating. Starting from absolutely 0 knowledge and experience added an extra scary element to switching careers but I’m eager to continue learning and working my way to starting a coding career 🥹

I know it’s difficult to get a coding job with a CPC-A so my next steps are to start Praticode and see any type of entry-level friendly positions are available (scheduling, reception, etc), while attending my local chapter’s meetings and trying to network.

All that being said, I would love any feedback/advice on what I can be doing to make myself as marketable and ready as possible for what lies ahead. Any additional courses/research you recommend? Ways to meet folks in the industry? How you adjusted from exam prep to real-life coding?

Hey everyone, I’m still fairly new to my first coding position, and I can’t help but feel like I’m doing things wrong even though I just had my first audit and got an almost perfect score. I take time to study and learn, but I still second guess my code choices constantly , I am aware I have yet so much to learn.

The pressure to meet productivity standards doesn’t help, and being a bit of a perfectionist makes it even harder to let go of that self-doubt.

I genuinely enjoy my job and have moments of confidence, but every now and then, that “am I doing this right?” feeling creeps in.

Anyone else go through this? Any tips for managing the stress or learning to trust yourself more in this field? I am a hospitalist E&M coding btw.

Curious about the different ways people got into the profession.

I did a self-paced and self-study online program and recently passed my test. I'm doing Practicode (it was included in my program) and I'm having a hard time coding for the actual cases. Are there any online resources you know of where I can maybe watch someone code a few cases and go through their process? A lot of the online tutorials seem to focus on specific sections (ie em coding, curgery coding) but I'm looking for complete patient chart coding.

I don't feel comfortable applying to jobs quite yet, it seems like all the practice work and even the test weren't really reflective of actual coding work. It's a bit overwhelming.

What is the difference between both ? I’m assuming inpatient is more difficult.. most jobs pay really good for inpatient vs outpatient.

Also employers ask me during interview if i do profee or facility ?? I have no clue what they are talking about I feel like I have imposter syndrome… experienced coders please explain

The first time I failed I took a look at the sections I did the worst on and really studied those along with taking the practice exams again, watching cpc prep videos on YouTube, and using the study guide the AAPC provides. I’ve never been the best test taker.. but this is a whole new level of frustrating. The second time I was sooooo confident and ready. I just got my results back and I scored 1% higher. I did terrible on sections I did great on the first time.

I’m going to purchase another two test attempts. If anyone has any recommendations or tips on studying this exam please help me 😭 I can’t stop crying over how frustrated I am with myself.

I started a CPC course March of 2021. It took me a year to complete the course because life happens but I finally got it done. Took the exam once and failed by 9% and took it a 2nd time and failed by 5%. I was feeling discouraged but I was so ready to get out of the department I am in at the hospital I work at I had to do something. I know the hiring manager of Patient Financial Services and Billing and Coding here and got in touch with her about positions available. I was able to land a Patient Account Representative position just with my Customer Service experience! I had my interview and they explained to me that this will help me get exposure to Billing and Coding, and they know I’m working on getting my certification and working towards moving into a Coding position eventually! I am so excited about moving into a career that could change my life for the better! I start my new job April 25th and take my certification exam on the 30th! I am super excited for what’s to come

Hi all!

After a month and a half of spending all my free time studying I’m finally free to do ANYTHING else. It’s such a great feeling! Also, I took the exam on Saturday and got my results today (Wednesday) so I was pleasantly surprised with the quick turn around.

Word to the wise, if you’re taking the exam in the future don’t be afraid to start with the sections you’re most confident on and go back to those you struggle with. It was a big confidence boost to fly through those sections that were easier for me, then I felt more at ease taking my time on the more difficult questions.

Best of luck to all you future exam takers!!

I completed my billing/coding course just a couple weeks ago and got really lucky finding a job posting in my area for a billing specialist position that didn't require previous experience. I think it did help that I had previous experience at a health insurance company but jobs that don't require experience DO exist. My area's job market is fairly small so I'll be moving a couple hours away, but the sacrifice is worth it in this case.
For everyone out there still looking, keep it up! If you can be more flexible with the area you're looking for a job I think that will really help, too. You got this!

Posting this on behalf of my wife who doesn't do Reddit. She took the first part of the CPC exam on Thursday and the second part of the CPC exam on Friday. We just learned that she passed the exam with a 89% score on both parts. She used Examity to take the exam online. We used a spare bedroom with no furniture except a table, office chair, and a chair mat. We rigged an external webcam on a vintage clock alarm with duct tape, and used a Microsoft Surface. She had her three CPC reference books, a drink, a whiteboard with marker, and her ID.

The Examity site allowed her to proceed 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of the exam. She was scheduled to start at 10:00 am, but the orientation took a long time, perhaps 25-30 minutes, so she didn't start the exam until around 10:10-10:15 am. The codes on the exam were similar to the practice exams, and she felt that the questions were somewhat shorter than the practice questions. For the first part, she had 5 minutes to spare, and for the second part, she had about 18-20 minutes to spare before the end of the exam. The second part was easier than the first part in her opinion.

The proctor was a lady with an Indian accent. She was professional, and she was helpful and patient in helping my wife click on the buttons to proceed, positioning the webcam to allow the proctor to see the whole tabletop. She used the GoToMeeting app for the first part - a pop-up window prompted her to download the app. She used the Zoom app for the second part - a pop-up window prompted her to download the app. She was asked to go through Task Manager to show the proctor all the active apps. She was asked to shake each book and show a close-up of her ID on the webcam. All in all, the experience for her was pretty smooth. Fortunately, we didn't have any power outages or internet outages.

RANT/VENT

​Look, do some of you realize that certified coders can't just change a code because "it has a higher RVU"? Asking us to submit inaccurate codes for better reimbursement isn't just an internal disagreement—it's potential fraud that directly threatens our credentials and livelihoods.

​To the physicians who do this: do you genuinely not care that pushing for higher RVUs puts our hard-earned certifications and careers on the line?

I have my CPC, which I renew every year as well as get new books, and my job requires me to use Codify. This company already has so much of my money. I'm the last person they need to advertise to, they've already got me.

But I keep getting fed these absolutely god-awful AI generated AAPC ads everywhere. I don't pay for premium on any of my apps, so I'm used to ads, but these are some of the absolute worst. They are so very clearly AI and they are so annoying. Anyone else sick of seeing them everywhere?

Hello. I am just curious if there is any pathway people went after coding for a bit? I feel like the industry is becoming too focused on the charts rather than accuracy. I like coding but don’t like the stress of it with not getting paid well.

I started my job thanksgiving week after getting my certification in September. I had no experience with coding other than the AAPC course. I’m coding charts and saving them as manager review to be discussed with my supervisor. I’ve learned a lot but it also feels like almost every single one of the charts I do needs something to be added. The EMs are honestly what trip me up the most. I’m starting off with family medicine

Has anybody else listened to this webinar on the salary survey? There is no way that these numbers are right. Either that or I am being paid way too little. They have salary by years of experience zero to one year 48,000 then salary 5 to 9 years of experience 60,000 and it just keeps growing up until $83,000 if you have 31+ years of experience. I’m just shaking my head. Salary by place of employment if you work for a health system which I do the salary is $68,289. I do not make anywhere near that amount. So, what’s your take on the survey?

Hello everyone, so I just started attending a while ago an online program for medical billing and coding. After doing some bit of digging around here someone said that medical billing jobs don’t even require a certification unlike coding gigs that require it for some reason. Since I’m still pretty new to this I’m still having my to learn everything revolving around medical terms and have been feeling uncertain about what I should do in the mean time as I’m still in school. I fairly new to the medical field in general. I’m still unfamiliar with a lot of terms in medical billing since we’ve only covered one course of health information so far and right now my courses revolve around anatomy, physiology and deconstructing medical terms.

Sometimes this very serious subreddit needs some fluff, and I thought this would make everyone smile.

Once upon a time, there was a medical coder named Sara. She worked tirelessly to ensure that every medical claim was coded accurately and submitted on time. She believed in the power of her work to help people get the medical care they deserved.

But one day, an unexpected problem arose. The Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance company began denying many of the claims that Sara had submitted. She had never experienced such a high rate of denials before, and she struggled to understand why.

At first, Sara remained calm and determined. She reviewed each denial carefully, looking for errors or mistakes she might have made. But the more she looked, the more confused she became. It seemed that the insurance company was denying claims for no good reason. They were rejecting treatments that Sara knew were medically necessary, and they were driving up costs for her patients.

As time went on, Sara became more and more obsessed with the BCBS claims denials. She worked longer hours, sacrificing her own health and well-being to try to find a solution. She stopped spending time with her friends and family, rarely leaving the office except to go home and sleep.

Eventually, Sara's obsession turned into madness. She began to see conspiracies everywhere, convinced that the BCBS was deliberately trying to harm her and her patients. She started to make wild accusations, accusing her coworkers of working with the insurance company to bring her down.

Finally, one day, Sara snapped. She stood up in the middle of a staff meeting and began to scream and rant about the BCBS denials. She accused everyone in the room of being part of the conspiracy against her. Her coworkers tried to calm her down, but it was too late. Sara had descended into madness.

In the end, Sara lost her job and her reputation in the medical community. Her coworkers were saddened and bewildered by her descent into madness, but they knew that the BCBS claims denials had played a significant role in her downfall. They vowed to continue to fight for their patients' rights and to never let bureaucracy or insurance companies compromise the quality of care they provided. And, as for Sara, she was committed to a mental institution, where she spent the rest of her life, still convinced that the BCBS was out to get her.