Has anyone tried Andrews for coding?

• Has anyone tried Andrews for coding? - luv2MT

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background and anatomy and physiology knowledge, a transition into coding wouldn't be hard at all.  From what I can tell by looking through my husband's books, an MT would have to learn insurance regulations and legalities.  We've basically got all the medical background down or we should be if we're worth our salt as an MT.

I even contacted AHIMA and found that the qualifications for taking the CCS or CCP coding exams are completion of the a coding program, RHIT program, or RHIA or related work experience.  Transcription is part of HIM, albeit the red-headed stepchild of the HIM department, but a part nonetheless and so satisfies the qualification of having work experience.

The test is tough though.  My husband didn't pass it his first time out and I think I read something like only 20% or so pass it the first time.  So it would probably be best to take some sort of formal coding class, in my opinion.

Can anyone tell me pros and cons of both of these schools?  I live in Canada and am trying to decide which one to go with.

Thanks in advance!
Katie

Those are the big 3, and I've read enough posts on enough boards over the years to say that I think there really is a very strong general consensus on the order I've put them in.  Andrews and M-Tec are actually probably fairly close together in terms of reputation, with Career Step following close behind those 2.

Sounds like it would be more a matter of balancing the costs, time, etc., versus what is offered by each, but if possible, I would think going with Andrews would not only result in better career opportunities, but also just a lot less frustration in the future with difficult dictators, etc., because of the better overall training and foundation they give. 

I have been thinking for quite a while about getting into coding.  Are there any MTs here who are also coders?  Are there any reputable "on-line" coding schools?  I really would like to do this.  27 years is enough.  If anybody knows about this, feel free to e-mail me.

Thanks

I used to work in a Doctor's office and do coding, electronic insurance billing, statements.  I loved it, but I had to quit because of my kids.  If my kids were older, I would still be doing it now.  I fell into coding when I was a Medical Assistant and it lasted 16 years.  Maybe I will get into it again when the kids get older. 

As far as any online schools that good, I don't know.  But what I can tell you is from my experience, working from an office or hospital is the best place to be for coding!!

I will try to be brief (please don't think me curt but there is much more I could say that I just don't have time to go into).

First to be a professional coder, you will need to be nationally certified.  There are 2 national organizations that provide proctored certification.  The first was AAPC and has an excellent program for both office-based and hospital-based coding certifications.  You can do the home program or find a company who provides classroom instruction and testing.  Either route will cost you about $1500 and about 3-4 months investment.  The other national is AHIMA.  You would need to look at their website to find the details for them, as I did not utilize them.  They cater more to people who are already in the field and need certification.

Because AHIMA's umbrella covers more than just coding, hospitals tend to give more credibility to their credentialling, but since AAPC set the standard and has the largest number of members, they have to be doing something right.  Both companies require prior coding experience, personal recommendations and membership in their organization.  If you have no previous experience, they have apprenticeship programs.  The CEUs to maintain your certification is about 20 per year with each organization.

Your investment in resources to perform your job is greater than in MT.  You will probably need a lap top and several programs to perform your job if it is not provided by an employer.  You can be a consultant if you can't get a job as a coder.  You could get additional certification and become an instructor and teach.

The next issue is home versus on-site work.  Some MT companies are beginning to combined MT and coding into their at-home programs; however, if you have no experience and no liability insurance and no support network, you could find yourself out of a job if you cannot produce quantity and quality quickly.  Finding a on-site coding position is difficult without experience unless you get lucky and find an office to give you a chance.  Many, many times your best bet to find a job is by networking through your local national's chapter or showing exceptional talent in the classroom setting and getting a referral from the instructor.

Coding is different from MT in that you are held liable by the federal government if you make a mistake.  Yes, the doctor is ultimately responsible, but the wording in the law states that the person who submits the bill is as guilty as the provider.  There are monetary and jail time penalties - and how much of each depends on how well you can prove it was accidental because the government assumes the fraud was intentional unless proven otherwise.  Better have insurance.  Because of this law, that is why you are seeing a greater need for certified coders...hospitals in particular do not want to expose themselves to the liability of the Office of Inspector General with unqualified personnel.

I got a coding auditor position on the outpatient side of a hospital.  I went to the clinics and performed audits of the previous quarter for every doctor at each clinic.  I scored everything, compiled reports, provided education to the doctors who failed the audits, provided monthly ongoing education and a coding hotline for daily unusual circumstances.  I was paid about $20/hr which was the low end of the spectrum for a hospital employee.  Physician offices tend to pay $12-15.  When I relocated to a different part of the country, I could not immediately find a coding position, so I went back into MT.  It took another year before I found a management company where I could code, but by then I needed to return back across the country due to family issues...and I let my certification lapse and continued with MT.

what is the best way to get into coding?  I have thought about an online course. 

I have experience in medical billing for 12 years and transcription for four years and I am also going back to school to pursue coding and take the national exam to get my CPC.  Coding is the new future as this transcription business is falling apart everyday.  It is so hard to make a decent wage.  These National companies are indeed a sweat shop taking advantage of the DR’s and paying us a pathetic price.  I make 12 cents a line working for a local physician, but I have lost 4 doctors already due to outsourcing.  I am running fast back to school because I think in the next couple years there will be VR everywhere.  What a shame to such a good profession.  This is just because someone was a little bit too greedy.

Good luck with coding. 

I am taking a continuing education class through my college for 8 months with medical terminology, which I really do not need as I have enough of that, but I am sure it will not hurt, and anatomy and physiology plus the coding.  I have also heard of the Carol J. Buck books and I am also going to purchase them once they come out in the first of January.  I heard these are good books.  I am one of those persons that needs someone to teach me and do better than trying to read out of the book and doing it on my own, but the Carol Buck book would not hurt as an addition.  This is the way to go for me as I have been burned too many times in this transcription industry in the last four years.  It is a shame it is like this way.  There is too much negativity.

I've actually thought about coding as well.  I was an ART/RHIT so I've done a bit of it and liked it, but I liked transcription better.  That was then; this is now.  If HHS would ever stop messing about, the US would start using ICD-10 like the rest of the civilized world.  This is very different from the current ICD-9-CM, so even experienced coders will have to take classes.  Some of my coder friends say they would consider retirement at that time.  Perhaps it would be our opportunity to make a switch. 

Airline job, huh?  I hope he means Southwest because the old major carriers aren't doing well.  I do wonder about Sir Richard Branson's new Virgin America, though.  Of course, maybe you'd get free/reduced fare miles and the paid vacation time to spend them on as part of the benefit package.  Got anywhere you'd like to go?  Taking son along is optional. (she smiles)

Coding is similar to MT.  It can be sent out to a service (Medquist does coding, too) which means it can be sent overseas.  There are computer programs for coding whose developers think will eventually be able to be used by clerks with no training in coding at all.  There are interesting benchmarks for productivity in coding:  Number of charts per day, inches of chart per day, money amount cleared from AR.  There's a lot of pressure in this line of work, too. Still, it might be around longer than MT, and from an administrative standpoint, it is a money-maker since how soon and how much the provider is paid depends on the speed and accuracy of the coding.  You do have to watch out for bosses who want you to illegally *upcode* to increase reimbursement. 

To get hired and move up, you really need to have one of AHIMA's many coding credentials behind your name, and their tests are tough!  I wouldn't mess with on-line classes.  Look for a junior college or college that has an RHIT/RHIA program.  They may have a coding certificate as well.  If the US ever gets around to adopting ICD-10, it may be a good opportunity to get into coding because this version is quite different from the current ICD-9-CM.  Even established coders are going to have to learn a lot of  new stuff.