1. Clinical Coder Certification Vera Dimitropoulos Lecturer, Advanced Coding Course

2. Coder Accreditation • The first Accredited Clinical Coder Examination was held in September 1996 • The process of ongoing coder accreditation failed to continue after the introduction of ICD-10-AM in 1998 • Coder education has changed. • Accreditation is no longer relevant.

3. Education • The foundation to the coder certification process is coder education • There are now 3 coder education programs • Introductory • Intermediate • Advanced • This process recognises the competence of experienced coders and supports achievement at the highest level

4. Certification is a process • Certification is not based solely on an exam • There are two components: • The completion of six advanced coding assignments (30% of assessment) • A 2 hour exam paper consisting of copies of de-identified medical records (70% of assessment) • The pass mark is 80%

5. Clinical Coder Certification

6. Two types of candidates • Course candidates: • Have completed the Advanced Coding Course • Undertake exam • External candidates: • Have the option of a preparation package consisting of 29 de-identified medical records with coding answers • Complete the 6 coding assignments • Undertake exam

7. Continual certification • Coding certification will be perpetual • To maintain currency, an online quiz updated for every edition change will be available to test for knowledge of: • edition changes and • other vital advice as published in Coding Matters (10-AM Commandments) • A certificate of currency will be issued for a quiz result of 80% or more

8. Online coding quiz • The online quiz will be a useful tool for a certified clinical coder : • who has been out of the workforce for a period of time • who is not coding a varied casemix at work • Failure to pass the quiz indicates that some continuing education may be necessary • Updated preparation packages to cater for continuing certification will be made available

9. Coding Assignments • If a candidate’s grade average is less than 80% • The candidate may choose to complete another assignment for any assignment with a mark below 80% in their assessment • The bank of alternative assignments will be known as B assignments • These provide candidates with an opportunity of increasing their mark in the assignment component of assessment which is worth 30%

10. Coding Panels • Representatives from most states were nominated via HIMAA state branches • De-identified coded records selected and sent to HIMAA • Records sent out to each coding panel member to code blindly and review for appropriateness • Records also coded blindly by HIMAA and CCSA representatives • Records returned to HIMAA for review and final selection of records in consultation with CCSA

11. Criteria for record selection

12. Evaluation and pilot exam • Candidates for the pilot examination: • in August 2005 will consist of state representatives and CCSA members from the coding panel • will be required to evaluate the exam, preparation package and the 6 advanced coding assignments.

13. For more information • Visit HIMAA booth at conference • Visit web page: www.himaa.org.au • Call HIMAA on (02) 9887 5898