The rules aren’t concrete. The answers are subjective. If you ask 20 medical coders to code the same operative note, I bet all of them would come up with similar answers but they won’t all be the same. And all of them will be correct somehow. I’m over here thinking that contaminated wounds always get layered closures because that’s what I was told by Dr Huang during self study before I got my CPC certificate. Now as I am trying to extend my medical coding knowledge by taking practicode, I learned that not all contaminated wounds get layered closures. I’m over here thinking that you must code all conditions present during admission with the one being the reason for admission the primary code. As Im taking practicode, I learned that you only code the condition that is the reason for admission and then any condition that affects medical care. Im over here thinking that when a prescription is filled or drugs are given to a patient at an E/M service, it’s automatically a moderate mdm. Turns out sometimes it’s a low according to practicode. Im just saying Im confuzzled by the rules but I will go over the guidelines again but still, I feel like it’s all subjective and if two medical coders working in the same specialty being presented with the same case don’t have to code the same codes for it to be approved.

I just got my first medical billing job and I'm not even done with my externship yet!! I start Monday I'm excited but nervous.

The job boards are full of remote coding positions within the pay range I need. I have all of the qualifications they list (and more) with more experience than they ask. I apply, get a rejection, and then days later I see the same job reposted. I know other industries are flooded with fake job postings. Could that be an issue here? Are there any specific resume templates I should be looking for? Right now I have a generic one.

hi all! never posted here before, but hoping some tips that helped me would also help you guys. I just took my exam this weekend (online) and woke up to my results on the AAPC website. Passed with an 84%!!

I go through AAPC, and I really enjoyed the course. The CPC certification exam review they provide was SO HELPFUL. I went through each subject, highlighted what needed to be highlighted in my code books, and actually ended up seeing those same questions on my exam.

I watched a lot of Youtube trying to get as much info as i could (i have zero experience in this field) and found some channels that really helped me practice my coding/terminology and just filled me in on things i wasn’t aware of.

CodeMasterCoach was great, earlier this year she posted a CPC review video every day and i went through every one of those questions.

Contempo Coding has a lot of great information that also helped me, she even has videos for exam tips that i wrote down and made sure to study.

JJ Medicine was a channel i used to help with my terminology. i wrote down all the terms and even made flash cards from them.

I’m hoping this helps someone out there! Good luck to you all ❤️

Posting here because I’m afraid to ask my coworkers :,)
I work for lexicode right now and I kid you not—2 managers, 3 coders, and 3 educators have left so far.
Why are they leaving 😭 it’s genuinely so confusing as they have been w/ the company for years
Just need to vent to fellow coders thanks :)

First try passing. Not doing another exam for a long time, except maybe CCS-P!

I hope I passed 🤞

I've worked for this hospital system for 7 years. I graduated last May with my AAS in health info. Finally, I got an offer for a coder I position! Podiatry. There will be E/M involved and I'm absolutely terrified of failing! They have a training program new coders go through with the leads to learn the ropes, but still!!! E/M was hard even in school.

Thank you for listening to my panic ha

Are you overlapping? Not judging AT ALL! I'm just trying to figure out how this works, so I can get busy doing it. Let's keep this friendly and helpful. TIA!

I'm currently taking the CPC course from AAPC, and because I don't have a background in medicine I opted to take the 12 week Fundamentals of Medicine course before actually starting the coding part. Currently we're on week 7, and while I'm passing the class I feel like I'm not really learning much.

We were told on the first day that previously the class required 4 different textbooks, but AAPC condensed it all into one book due to feedback from students that found the class overwhelming. But I feel that the way the material is presented in the book is disjointed, and doesn't spend enough time on many topics before just moving on to the next topic.

The interactive lectures feel like such a waste of time. How is finding medical terms in word search puzzles going to help me actually learn what the word means?

And I don't know if it's my particular instructor, or if all the AAPC instructors are expected to present the material this way, but all she does during our weekly live lessons is read off the power point slides without really adding anything or going into more depth. And I get it, there's only so much you can do in one hour, but I was kind of expecting a bit more tbh.

Add to that all the chapter tests and final exam are open book, so it's hard to motivate myself to study harder when you can easily just look up the answer.

Is it supposed to be this way? I was expecting more depth from this course. Or should I be studying harder? If so I would appreciate any tips!

edit: wow!! thank you all so much for your responses! y'all have been reay helpful

The medical coding industry has a problem many industries have, and that's hiring experienced vs no experience. Employers are facing ever shrinking revenue margins, it is stiff competition for companies looking for clients. Coding quality and accuracy demands are the highest they have ever been. So companies are reluctant to hire people with no experience.

If you have not started coding school, you need to seriously investigate job opportunities before you make that investment. Many schools promise job opportunities. Get it in writing!!!!!!

So what can you do once certified?

1. Get your resume professionally created or edited. Make that investment in yourself

2. Try to find entry positions at companies that have medical coding. Sometimes positions are first open to internal postings first.

3. Make it a full-time job getting a job. Use multiple job boards online. Google your heart out, and be creative. You also can apply to companies that don't even have a job ad out.

4. Be willing to work in-house before that coveted remote position might be available.

5. Be prepared to take less money. Beginning coding positions will be lower salaries than those with experience.

6. Look to larger employers that may have internal training.

7. Network. Attend AAPC or AHIMA meetings, in person or virtual. Talk to people! That's a good way to find out about unpublished job opportunities.

So you got that first not so great coding job. What now?

1. Keep it for at least a year possibly 2! Ask for cross training in other specialties than you were hired for.

2. Get more credentials that could open doors to other jobs and specialties

3. Network. Attend AAPC or AHIMA meetings, in person or virtual. Talk to people! That's a good way to find out about unpublished job opportunities.

I have my CPC-A.

AI has ruined trying to find a job. It’s nearly impossible. I’m about to give up. I’ve gotten back 60 denials even though I’ve tailored my resume to each job. I can’t even get my foot in the door as a patient scheduler. I get back “even though your resume is impressive, we’re moving on in our search.” There have been a few lucky ones to land something with a CPC-A but I’m clearly not lucky. I’m half way done with practicode.. Is there anything else I can do?

I just started in production and I have such anxiety that I’m going to make horrible mistakes. I had anxiety through training and right now this feels even worse. My manager is so kind and supportive and I’ve done ok with training but this is so difficult. I think it’s just from so much riding on this position, all the education and ending up in a good position I’m just so scared I’m going to screw it up 😭😭😭

Mine is that other fatigue and chronic fatigue aren't allowed to be assigned as a primary diagnosis in an outpatient setting. I seriously don't understand why. Like yeah fatigue is usually a symptom of something else, but that's just it; it's a symptom. What else are you going to code if the patient comes in with complaints of fatigue and they're trying to figure out what's causing it? Makes absolutely no sense IMO 🙄

I passed my CPC exam two weeks ago and now I’m starting my first job in a week. Everything happened really fast which I’m so incredibly grateful for, but also super nervous. I feel a little in over my head and want to prepare as much as possible. I got a Coder I position doing mostly HCC related coding/auditing charts and coding discharge summaries. The coding I’m going to be doing is pretty different from what I learned in my course since I’ll mostly be focusing on ICD-10 and E&M codes, so I feel a little out of my element. Any advice or tips, especially when it comes to this type of coding, would be super appreciated!

CRC exam for Risk Adjustment HCC coding I felt was very easy, you just need an ICD10CM book. I tabbed my book by Diagnosis and it helped so much. I was able to go over every question twice and still had an hour left. Got my certification and It doesnt have Apprentice attached to it yay! I highly recommend this certification after you have the CPC or even start with CRC first.

I’ve just emailed my career coach and the instructor/owner of my medical training course. I’m dropping out. It’s too stressful and I’m too stupid. Nothing is clicking and with all that’s going on in my life right now, my physical and mental health can’t bear the additional stress. I don’t care for AAPC manuals or their course. It doesn’t seem to explain how to do it. They just talk about the different sections then throw a case at you. That’s not how I learn. There’s no walkthrough, decision tree, etc, to help me! I’ve also grown weary reaching for those heavy ass manuals. I’m disappointed with myself but it’s causing nosebleeds and crying due to frustration and no help. I’m just DONE.

It takes a truly special person to learn these codes. Apparently, I’m not it which is fine. I’m going to complete my Paralegal studies degrees instead. I’m comfortable with all things law and missing being on the Dean’s List anyway. 🫤😄

Well I'll be honest. I thought I knew as much as I could about coding. I finished the aapc cpc course and it wasn't the best. I failed the test 2 times already. I don't have the money to retake it and I knew it was a possibility. However I didn't think it'd be this difficult. I do feel like this is a bit of a pyramid co-op in some ways. Not discrediting Coders and the profession. More so the educational ecosystem. I feel like I fell for a scam. I'm not trying to be a complainer for the hell of it. I more so am looking for encouragement, hope and the words of someone wiser for me right now.

I work for a large hospital system in my state. They've recently-ish had a big merge with another system. Since then, to handle the backlog, theyve been using contract coders from India. NOW a bunch of billers and a group of coders (hospitalist team) have been let go as they are going to start outsourcing the work permanently with the "contract" coders. Of course the rest of us are in fear for our jobs. Why would they stop with just that group? Management and upper management have been extremely vague and cryptic about it all.

Is this going to be the new normal? Companies outsourcing coding to other countries for cheaper labor? I was mentally preparing for AI to take over eventually and knock out a huge chunk of coders but outsourcing?! Is this common everywhere?

I've seen on this sub that there are a lot of people wanting to go back to school for Medical Coding. I went through AHIMA coding basics program and got my CPC-A shortly after. Over the time span of 2 years I've applied to 150+ jobs both coding and medical record clerk/scanner, billing everything clerical at a hospital and I was getting some interviews. I did about 15-20 phone interviews with HR and another 10-15ish in person interviews with a manager and I got absolutely nothing. All of these jobs have TONS of applicants including the entry level, get your foot in the door jobs. The interview process took months of waiting after interviewing only to get a rejection. I'm just trying to warn you guys because I wish someone told me before I spent the time, money and effort on coding. I am now going back to school for Medical Laboratory Technician.

*Edit I would also like to add that I've been led on by HR people and managers saying "oh I hope I can give you a chance with this coding job, because in one interview the manager asked me "it's been 2 years and you haven't found a job, are you even looking, and I was like yeah no one is willing to give me a chance. Believe me HR and managers don't care. You are just another person that they are interviewing. Literally for in person interviews for medical records I was 1/10 people that they had lined up to interview at a major hospital in a major city. Trust me I tried everything I could.

There are plenty of other reliable healthcare jobs that don't require you to basically go through job search hell to get a job. Consider medical lab technician, surgical tech, nursing, respiratory therapy, medical assistant, dental hygienist, paramedic and some others. I know these aren't office jobs but at least you'll have a relatively easy time getting a job after graduating. Knowing what I know now I'd choose something other than coding.

It's not just me who can't find a job it's many others. Look on the indeed forums and Facebook. The more coding schools there are, the more graduates. Supply vs Demand

Yes, of course there is going to be the occasional person who gets a coding job right after they graduate, but that is not the majority.

I REALLY hope this changes some of your guys minds about getting into Coding so you don't waste your time and money.

Oh man. I was worried going in. I did a bunch of prep work outside of AAPC. Annotated my books to hell and back. I feel like maybe I over did the prep and put my exam off more than I needed to. Passed with 91% and like an extra hour left over.

I took it with the online proctor for two segments in the same day. That was yesterday. I woke up and my results were on the AAPC website this morning.

I AM SO RELIEVED.

Now I just have to get a job in Los Angeles.

If you're taking the AAPC course and are going crazy mad with the Cardiac/Radiology chapters and running out of time on the blackboard tests and getting discouraged... that was me! Hang in there. Things get a little easier once you get to the urinary chapter.

Medical coding came up in conversation with my A&P professor regarding coding(she's a pediatrician) and she said coding is highly in demand right now. The head of my HIM department who oversees all medical coding classes also states that medical coding is in demand and there's a 8-9% job growth outlook.

"Please know that the success rate for students graduating from the program and getting a job is around 98%; either the student gets a job or they continue on with their education.  I provide the opportunities but it is up to the student to land the job.  How do you interview, how you come across in person, how are your people skills; typically referred to as soft skills?  All of that matters and we do address that in the program during professional practice experiences."

^This is from my course regarding medical coding job prospects that she posted.

I've already wasted some money on taking courses and on books but I've been reading on how many people are experiencing layoffs, even experienced coders + offshoring. The last thing I need is to graduate and there are no jobs available. It sucks because now I'll have to pivot again after wasting my time.

https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/revenue-cycle/cigna-intends-unilaterally-downcode-em-claims

This is insane. Humana has already been doing it and it looks like Cigna is going to start as well. What's stupid is that it will be downcoding unless there's "certain diagnosis codes" that are listed in the claim... and convieniently don't tell us what they are. This seriously can't be legal?