Certified Coder Boot Camp®
Questions/Answers
What is the focus
of the course?
The Certified Coder Boot Camp focuses on ICD-9-CM, CPT and HCPCS Level II
coding for professional services and hospital outpatient services. The first day of the course is
devoted primarily to ICD-9-CM diagnosis coding. The remaining four days are devoted primarily to
CPT and HCPCS II coding. The objectives of the course are (i) to provide course participants with a
solid foundation in ICD-9-CM, HCPCS II and CPT coding and (ii) to prepare course participants to take
the Certified Professional Coder (or CPC) examination, if they so desire (many people take the course
without pursuing certification).
Does HCPro offer any other versions of the course?
Yes. In addition to the Certified Coder Boot Camp, we offer the Certified Coder
Boot Camp - Inpatient Version, an intensive, one-week course focusing on ICD-9-CM Diagnosis (Volumes 1
and 2) and Procedure (Volume 3) Coding for Inpatient Hospital (i.e., Facility) Services. For more
information, click on Certified Coder Boot Camp®
- Inpatient Version. The bestselling Certified Coder Boot Camp® is now available online!
Can't take a week off of work to train? Now take the course online in one month! Click here for more information about our online version.
How long does
the course last?
One week. Typically, class runs Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until at least 5:30 p.m. each day (class often runs later than 5:30 if the students need additional assistance with a particular subject). We try to end class a little early on Friday, typically by 3:30 p.m.
Where is the
course offered?
Open registration Certified Coder Boot Camps are offered at various locations around the country,
typically at mid-priced business hotels such as Hyatt Place or Hilton Garden Inn. For a list of
upcoming open registration Certified Coder Boot Camps, click on
Course Locations/Dates.
Does HCPro offer
the Certified Coder Boot Camp as an "on-site"course?
In addition to our open registration courses, we also offer the Certified Boot Camp as an "on-site" course (with a substantial discount) for organizations that have a number of
employees who need coding training. For more information on hosting an on-site course, click on
Host an On-Site Course.
Is the cost of the exam part of the course registration fee?
No, the cost of the exam is not included in the $1,599 course registration fee. Course participants
desiring to take the examination will be required to register for the exam with the AAPC and pay a
separate examination fee (currently $260) and student membership fee (currently $70) directly to the
AAPC. Information on registering for (and paying for) the examination is sent out upon receipt of the
student's course registration materials. Please do not send payment for the exam with your course
tuition.
What if I
need to cancel or transfer my registration?
Cancellation Policy:
- All cancellations must be made in writing.
- Cancellations received within 3 days of the date HCPro, Inc. receives the registration are eligible for a full refund.
- Written cancellations received between 4 days after the date HCPro, Inc. receives the registration and 15 days prior to first day of class are eligible for a refund, less a $200 cancellation fee.
- Written cancellations received 14 days prior to the first day of class are not eligible for a refund, but are eligible for payment transfer (credit) to another Certified Coder Boot Camp® or Medicare Boot Camp® (less a $200 transfer fee). The credit is valid for up to 6 months from date of the cancelled class.
- Participant(s) who do not cancel in writing will be considered as "no shows" and will not be eligible for refunds/credits.
This policy is subject to change.
Who typically
attends the course?
- Coders and Billers
- Patient Accounting Managers/Staff
- Medical Practice Managers/Staff
- Medical Records/Health
Information Managers/Staff
- Registration Managers/Staff
- Clinical Managers and Department
Heads
- Physicians, NPs, PAs and Other
Clinicians
- Compliance Officers and Auditors
- Finance and Reimbursement
Managers/Staff
- Healthcare Consultants, CPAs and
Lawyers
- Health Plan and Insurance Company
Personnel
- Medicare Carrier and Intermediary Personnel
What material
does the course cover?
Click on
Course Outline for more
information about the topics covered by the Certified Coder Boot Camp.
Does completion of the course lead to any formal certification?
The CPC examination is optional, but highly recommended for Boot Camp participants. We find that students who know that they are going to sit for the CPC examination are more focused during the course. In addition, individuals with the CPC credential are nationally recognized as having particular expertise in medical coding.
Course participants desiring to take the examination will be required to register for the exam with the AAPC and pay a separate examination fee directly to the AAPC. Students can find a list of exam sites on the AAPC's web site at http://www.aapc.com/certification/locate-examination.aspx.
How is the certification exam structured?
The CPC examination consists of 150 multiple choice questions covering all of the areas listed in
the Course Outline. The examination is timed and
must be completed in five and ½ hours. The CPT, ICD-9-CM and HCPCS II manuals may be used during the
examination. The examination is divided into three sections. Applicants must
achieve a passing score in each section in order to pass the examination. The examination is scored
by the AAPC. Examinees are typically notified of their exam results within 4-6 weeks of the
examination date.
How
do I register for the
certification exam?
Information on exam registration, including the exam registration form, is sent out with
confirmation of your course registration.
Can I take the certification exam through one of the local
AAPC chapters?
Information on alternative exam sites is available on the AAPC's web site at
http://www.aapc.com/certification/locate-examination.aspx.
Is the course just an exam prep class?
No - it is intended to be much more than an exam prep class. Although we work hard to help our
course participants become credentialed, the objective of the course is to provide a solid foundation
in coding principles and to teach the course participants how to use the coding manuals properly.
However, as a part of the course our instructors also review suggested strategies for preparing for
and taking the CPC exam. The course participants also work a complete 150 question practice CPC exam
as a part of the course.
Does
Medicare or any other third-payer require coders to be certified?
We are not aware of any such requirement. To the best of our knowledge, coding certification,
while generally helpful in promoting accurate coding, is entirely voluntary.
How intense is the course
compared to the more traditional full semester courses?
It is an understatement to say that the Certified Coder Boot Camp is intense. We are covering a full semester of material in one week. Over the course of the week, the students work approximately 500 coding problems/exercises (including nightly homework). Other than breaks, the course participants are in class from 8 a.m. to at least 5:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday (class often runs later than 5:30 p.m.) and 8:00-3:30 p.m. on Friday. Course participants should plan on devoting their full time and attention to the Boot Camp program during the week of their course. Course participants should also plan on taking the entire Boot Camp week off from work.
Course participants who live more than 45 minutes away from the course site should reserve a hotel
room for the week. Due to the amount of classroom and homework time required, our students have found
it very difficult to commute more than 45 minutes each way and still do well in the course.
Does the course require previous coding
experience?
No. The course starts with coding fundamentals and does not assume that participants have any
particular background or experience. However, because of the fast-paced nature of the course, it is
recommended (but not required) that Certified Coder Boot Camp participants have at least one year of
experience working in the healthcare industry in a billing-related, administrative or clinical position.
Also, if you do not already have a solid understanding of medical terminology, we strongly
recommend that you complete a medical terminology self study course prior to the start of your Boot
Camp. A good self-study program is Medical Terminology for Health Professions, 5th Edition by Ann
Ehrlich and Carol L. Schroeder. The ISBN number is 0-40186026-5. The book is available on
amazon.com and may also be available from one of your local bookstores.
Our students who do not have a strong background in medical terminology typically find this book
extremely helpful.
How is the course taught?
The course is taught using a combination of lecture, class discussion and individual and group
problem solving. Course participants should also plan on several hours of additional out-of-class work
each evening during the course.
Do I need to bring my own coding manuals to class?
Generally, any version of the 2010 ICD-9-CM8 and any version of the 2010 HCPCS Level II manual will be fine for class. Note that some publishers publish "Expert" editions of the ICD-9-CM and HCPCS Level II manuals. While not required for the course, the Expert editions of those two manuals (but not CPT) are acceptable. If you have not already purchased ICD-9-CM and HCPCS Level II manuals, the following manuals are recommended:
Individual manuals are also available on HCMarketplace.
Does HCPro ever share contact information (e.g., name,
address, phone number, email address, etc.) with other companies?
Historically, we have not shared contact information with anyone outside of our company. However,
it is possible that at some point we might share contact information with other companies that offer
products and services that we think would be of interest to our customers. If you would like us to
keep your contact information confidential, please let us know so that we can flag your information in
our customer database as "Do Not Share."
How do I get more information:
Contact Customer Service at 800/780-0584 or
bootcamps@hcpro.com.
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