The Certified Rheumatology Coding Course and Exam will be available November 6–7 during the ACR/ ARHP Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta. This educational session is designed to increase knowledge of coding and billing compliance for physicians, fellows-in-training, practice managers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and coders/billers in rheumatology practices.
The ACR, in conjunction with the American Academy of Professional Coders, created the rheumatology-specific certification to meet the demand for individuals with medical coding training. A certified coder can provide accurate coding for appropriate reimbursement and help reduce audit risks.
The course educates applicants on CPT, ICD-9, and HCPCS codes and teaches them how to properly bill to the highest level of specificity for procedures performed in rheumatology practices. To receive the Certified Rheumatology Coder (CRHC) credential, individuals must participate in the two-day rheumatology coding course and pass the examination. The course is designed to increase coding knowledge and help participants prepare for the examination. Coders with at least one year of experience and expertise in rheumatology coding are encouraged to take the CRHC exam, which will test participants on:
- The ability to read and abstract physician office notes and procedure notes to apply correct ICD-9-CM, CPT, HCPCS Level II, and modifier coding assignments;
- Evaluation and management (both the 1995 and 1997 Documentation Guidelines);
- Rules and regulations of Medicare billing including incident to, teaching situations, shared visits, consultations, and global surgery;
- Coding of surgical procedures commonly performed by rheumatologists, such as trigger-point injections, joint injections, and others;
- Medical terminology; and
- Anatomy and physiology.
Required Materials
Course participants will need to bring current CPT, ICD-9-CM, and HCPCS Level II manuals to take the examination. These are available at the American Medical Association bookstore at https://catalog.amaassn.org/Catalog.
Course Instructors
Antanya A. Chung, CPC, CPC-I, CRHC, CCP, currently serves as the director of practice management at the ACR. Chung is a certified professional coder and a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders. She is also a certified compliance professional through the Medicare Fraud and Abuse Compliance Institute. Chung has 10 years of experience in the medical field. Her professional experience ranges from physician coding to processing and claims review.
Melesia Tillman, CPC, CRHC, CHA, currently serves as the coding and reimbursement specialist at the ACR. Tillman is a certified professional coder and a certified healthcare auditor. She has more than 15 years of experience in medical billing, coding, and the insurance field.