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HIM Transitions

Dueling Continuing Education

Published June 1, 2009 11:41 AM by Carol Dantzler-Harris, MEd, RHIA, CPC
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I recently passed the CPC exam and still basking in the glow of my accomplishment. With this accomplishment comes the responsibility to stay current with coding guidelines and other external factors that influence the world of coding. As a new member of AAPC, I am not as familiar with the continuing education requirements. The AAPC website makes it easy to track you continuing education with a CE tracker. It gives you the total number of CEs that you must obtain and the number you currently have. This eliminates having to write down every single workshop that I attend. I just need to verify my CEs by providing documentation that is asked by the AAPC.

In addition to obtaining CPC credits, I have to maintain my RHIA credential. To maintain the RHIA credential, I must have thirty continuing education credits in a two year cycle. My primary concern is the cost associated with maintaining dual CEs. The registration fees and travel costs associated with attending workshops can be expensive. Since I work under contract, I must pay for my own continuing education.

There are options to attending workshops. The AAPC allows you to take quizzes from the Coding Edge magazine to earn continuing education credits. You can also earn CEs by attending local AAPC chapter meetings. The best part is that this is all free. This definitely helps me stretch my dollars. I think the hardest part will be juggling the two different continuing education credits associated with the two credential bodies.

If anyone has any information on other types of free continuing education available, let me know.

posted by Carol Dantzler-Harris, MEd, RHIA, CPC
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5 comments
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Hello,

The AAPC offers a great way to obtain continuing education credits for free.  You can take the tests in the  Coding Edge and the EdgeBlast. I have taken several of these tests and they don't take much of your time.  You are learning the latest information and earning your CEUs at the same time.  CMS offers online web based training. Check this out on their website at  http://www.cms.hhs.gov

Even though you dont' have transportation at this time, you can join the local AAPC chapter and earn CEUs by attending their monthly meetings.  I hope this information helps.

Carol Dantzler-Harris,MEd, RHIA, CPC
Carol Dantzler June 23, 2009 6:40 PM

When you take your program at a college some of the teachers dont tell you have to take CEU .This is a lot of money. I'm wondering how am I going to pay for this. This information has helped me. I would like to know what kind of advice can you give me. What do you do if you dont have a car and they have workshops in different parts and there is no bus running. I have to get certified for medical billind and coding and I'm currently enrolled in the HIT program  and have to get certified and get CEU for this program also. Could you tell me how do you keep up with all this. thankyou
T Southern June 23, 2009 8:15 AM

If you pre-approve your teaching for CEUs, any in-services you do or attend local chapter meetings, you should have no problem getting enough.
Kevin Shields, HIMS - CCS, CPC, CCS-P, CPC-H, CPC-P, RCC, CCP-P June 12, 2009 4:05 PM
Louisville KY

Larissa,

Thanks so much for this information. I will add this to my list of favorite websites.

Carol Dantzler-Harris,MEd,RHIA,CPC
Carol Dantzldr June 6, 2009 1:40 PM

Your post is great!

Free ways to get CEU's are easy.

One of our fellow employees has shared with me the following: "CMS has some and I tell everyone that Highmark Medicare Services (www.highmarkmedicareservices.com) has over 30 modules and each one is worth 1 free CEU and the bonus is you learn all you ever need to know about Medicare."
Larissa, Communications - Communications, American Academy of Professional Coders June 5, 2009 12:51 PM
Salt Lake City UT

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