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                Exam Preparation

CCSs are skilled in classifying medical data from patient records, generally in a hospital setting. These coding practitioners:

• Review patients’ records and assign numeric codes for each diagnosis and procedure
• Possess expertise in the ICD-9-CM and CPT coding systems
• Are knowledgeable about medical terminology, disease processes, and pharmacology.

Different facilities and institutions make use of a CCSs' skills:

• Hospitals and medical providers take the coded data created by CCSs to insurance companies—or to the government in the case of Medicare and Medicaid recipients—for reimbursement of expenses
• Researchers and public health officials also use this data to monitor patterns and explore new interventions

Coding accuracy is highly important to healthcare organizations, and has an impact on revenues and describing health outcomes. In fact, certification has become an implicit industry standard. Accordingly, the CCS credential demonstrates a practitioner's tested data quality and integrity skills, and mastery of coding proficiency. Professionals experienced in coding inpatient and outpatient records should consider obtaining this certification.

Eligibility Requirements

CCS exam candidates must have earned a high school diploma from a United States high school or have an equivalent educational background.

Although not required, it is strongly recommended that candidates have at least three years of on-the-job experience in:

• Hospital-based inpatient coding for multiple case types (for example, circulatory, pregnancy, neoplasms, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, respiratory, and endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases, and immunity disorders)
• Hospital-based Ambulatory/Outpatient Care coding for multiple case types (for example, eye, musculoskeletal, integumentary, ENT, injury and poisoning, cardiac catheter, interventional radiology, and pain management)

AND

• Completed coursework in anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology, or demonstrated proficiency in these areas

Beginning June 2, 2009 candidates must bring the 2009 versions of ICD-9-CM Volumes 1 through 3 and CPT coding books to the testing center.  Only the American Medical Association CPT code book is permitted.  A medical dictionary is optional.  List of Allowable Codebooks CCS Recommended Resources Effective June 2, 2009 candidates will recieve a test completion notice in place of a score report.  Those candidates that test between June 2 - 30, 2009 will receive their score reports during the week of August 17th 2009.  Updates for candidates that test after June 30, 2009 will be posted at a later date. Candidates without the required codebooks will not be permitted to test and will forfeit their application fee.

• Online CCS Exam Registration
• FAQs for the CCS Examination
• 2009 CCS Application
• 2009 Certification Candidate Guide
• Special Accommodations Form (Form A and B)
  
  
  
  

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