Other Medical Billing and Codiing Certifications

Certifications are only as credible as the organization that gives them. Do your  homework to find the most appropriate and reputable for your situation. 
The AAPC and AHIMA aren’t the only certifications. Although they are perhaps  the most well-known.

AAPC trademarked certifications 
The AAPC offers several trademarked certifications. These specialty certifications  do not require you to get a Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification.

Certified Ambulatory Surgery Center Coder (CASCC) 
Ability to read and assign the correct  codes and modifiers to procedures  performed in an ambulatory surgery  center (ASC); understanding rules for 
ASC reimbursement, including the  multiple procedure discount coding for  discontinued procedures 

Certified Anesthesia and Pain  Management Coder (CANPC) 
Proficiency in selecting the highest  based anesthesia CPT code for  surgical cases and assigning the  appropriate American Society of  Anesthesiologist (ASA) codes;  correctly using anesthesia modifiers  and determining base units for cases;  having a good grasp of procedures  performed by physicians specializing  in physical medicine, rehab and pain  management 

Certified Cardiology Coder (CCC) 
Proficiency in coding surgical procedures,  including heart catheterization,  coronary interventions, and vascular  procedures, that are performed by cardiologists 

Certified Chiropractic Professional  Coder (CCPC) 
Proficiency in coding procedures performed  by licensed chiropractors 

Certified Emergency Department Coder   (CEDC) 
Proficiency in coding surgical procedures  performed by emergency  department physicians; awareness of  evaluation and management guidelines  and time-based code protocol 

Certified ENT Coder (CENTC) 
Proficiency in coding ENT (ear, nose,  throat) procedures, as well as determining  appropriate evaluation and  management codes by reading office  notes and operative reports (which  may document surgical procedures  performed by otolaryngologists) 

Certified Evaluation and Management Coder (CEMC) 
Expertise in assigning the correct  evaluation and management codes by  identifying the level of visit based on  the three key components of medical  decision making 

Certified Family Practice Coder (CFPC) 
Expertise in determining the correct  kind of evaluation and management  codes to capture the level of visit; proficiency  in coding minor surgical and  ancillary procedures that a family practitioner  may perform; full understanding  of relative value unit (RVU) sequencing 

Certified Gastroenterology Coder   (CGIC) 
Proficiency in coding procedures performed  by gastroenterologists; determining  evaluation and management  codes 

Certified General Surgery Coder (CGSC) 
Proficiency in coding surgical procedures  performed by general surgeons;  knowledgeable in global periods and RVU sequencing 

Certified Hematology and Oncology Coder (CHONC) 
Proficiency in coding surgical and  therapeutic procedures performed by  hematologists, oncologists, and members  of their staff 

Certified Internal Medicine Coder   (CIMC) 
Proficiency in determining billable  procedures based on physician office  notes, including office procedures   (injections, vaccinations, and so on)  and minor surgical procedures (such  as joint injections) 

Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder (CIRCCO) 
Expertise in interventional radiology  and cardiovascular coding; proficiency  in coding cardio-related items (like  diagnostic angiography), cardiac  catheterizations, and nonvascular  procedures 

Certified Obstetrical Gynecology Coder   (COBGC) 
Proficiency in coding obstetric services  and surgical procedures normally performed  by OB/GYNs 

Certified Pediatric Coder (CPEDC) 
Proficiency in coding office procedures  and surgical procedures performed by  pediatricians, as well as determining  correct evaluation and management  codes based on office notes 

Certified Plastics and Reconstructive  Surgery Coder (CPRC) 
Expertise in coding surgical procedures  performed by plastic and  reconstructive surgeons, as well as the  ability to identify procedures considered  cosmetic 

Certified Professional Coder in Dermatology (CPCD) 
Proficiency in coding surgical procedures   (including various types of lesion  excisions) performed by dermatologists 

Certified Professional Compliance Officer (CPCO) 
Proficiency in understanding the  requirements necessary to develop  and implement a compliance protocol  for a medical office 

Certified Professional Medical Auditor   (CPMA) 
Proficiency in coding and documentation  guidelines; being able to  offer advice to improve a facility’s or  practice’s revenue cycle; possessing  advanced knowledge of medical documentation,  fraud, and abuse as well as  a familiarity with penalties for violations  based on government regulations 

Certified Rheumatology Coder (CRHC) 
Proficiency with evaluation and management  codes and surgical procedures  performed by rheumatologists 

Certified Urology Coder (CUC) 
Expertise in coding office and surgical  procedures performed by urologists 

Specialty AHIMA certifications 
Much like its kissing cousin, the AAPC, AHIMA offers several types of specialty  certifications. It’s a veritable alphabet soup of acronyms and designations,  but fear not: I explain them all in the following sections. 

Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) 
As a Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA), you are an expert  in managing medical records, including patient information and computer  systems. You also have in-depth knowledge of ethical and legal requirements  and standards with regard to the healthcare industry. 

HIIM
Health Informatics and Information  Management (HIIM) deals with just about  everything associated with the information  created, disseminated, and shared by the  healthcare industry, soup to nuts. From local  information technology and interpersonal digital  relations between physicians, clinics, and  hospitals to coding information for Medicare  and Medicaid, information management plays  a role in how all the healthcare pieces work  together. Making sure that patient data is managed  with the utmost integrity is paramount,  and it is part and parcel of an ongoing national  effort to reduce medical errors and high costs  for both physician and patient. 
A strong foundation in HIIM is important for  anyone wanting to earn certification in a related  field. The impending total shift to electronic  health records promises a secure future for  anyone involved in the health information and  informatics industry, so getting a degree in HIIM  is going to be a win-win. 

According to the University of  Tennessee’s Health Science Center, its Master  of HIIM degree prepares you for careers in  healthcare administration, data security oversight,  strategic and operational information  resource planning, clinical data analysis, clinical  classification systems and support systems,  information systems development, and even  electronic health records implementation and  management. 

Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) 
As a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), you are certified to  ensure completion and accuracy of medical records, including proper entry  into computer systems. You may also specialize in coding medical records. 
This certification is often held in combination with a bachelor’s degree. To  be eligible, you must have completed an accredited HIIM program (accreditation  is through the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and 
Information Management Education) or have graduated from a HIIM program  approved by a foreign association with which AHIMA has a reciprocity  agreement. 

Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA) 
To achieve the Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA) certification level, you  must demonstrate expertise in health data analysis. As the healthcare industry  becomes more data driven and the use of electronic medical records continues  to increase, practitioners will need individuals who can focus on the  future of their practices and develop strategies to stay viable. To be eligible  for this certification, you must have either of the following: 

Board of Medical Specialty Coding and Compliance (BMSC) 
BMSC is a lesser-known provider of specialty medical coding certifications  and training for coders, compliance officers, and clinicians. BMSC certifications  encompass those who work in physician offices, as well as home healthcare  professionals. 
Because the levels of education required in coding and compliance build  from one certification level to another, BMSC certification helps coders and  other professionals move up the career ladder. 

The BMSC’s certifications include the following: 
Specialty Coding Professional (SCP) and Advanced Coding Specialist   (ACS), both of which offer specialty certification in numerous areas 

Certified Compliance Professional-Physician (CCP-P), a certification for  compliance professionals in physician offices 

Home Care Coding Specialist-Diagnosis (HCS-D) for home care coders  with experience in that area 

Home Care Clinical Specialist-OASIS (HCS-O) for home healthcare  clinicians 

All the BMSC certifications are directed to those who already have experience  in the specified areas. Recertification requires taking an exam every two years  and renewing your membership annually. 

Professional Association of Healthcare Coding Specialists (PAHCS) 
PAHCS is a support organization that functions as a communication network  for members. This organization serves primarily as a support system for  coders working in a medical practice, but membership is open to all coding  professionals. 
Certification by this organization involves submitting an application and completing  a written examination that shows proficiency within the ambulatory  healthcare delivery system. If you’ve been certified by other organizations,  you may receive PAHCS certification by showing proof of current certification  and paying a membership fee and a processing fee.