CMC Preparatory Course Outline

This is a five-day course, administered over a 5-week period. The program includes classroom instruction, course manual, homework exercises, exam preparation handbook and the certification exam. Primary coding rules and principles will be reviewed, along with a medical terminology section designed exclusively for coders. Coding exercises will be completed both in class and as homework exercises. Students will learn to master advanced coding issues, how to deal with modifiers, ancillary services, and a number of challenging coding scenarios.

Course Highlights:

Medical Terminology as applied to diagnostic and procedural coding

Roots, prefixes and suffixes – the building blocks

Terminology according to body and organ systems

Abbreviations and definitions

Hands-on exercises

ICD-9-CM Diagnostic Coding

Assignment of procedural codes according to HHS requirements

Coding clinic for ICD-9-CM Vols. I & II

Coding conventions including etiology and manifestations

Coding for multiple vs. single conditions – primary and secondary diagnoses

How and when to utilize and code from the following: Table of Neoplasms, Table of Drugs and Chemicals, and Hypertension Table

Coding for injuries and poisonings, surgeries, burns, fractures and wounds

Mandatory use of supplemental external codes with series 800-900 ICD-9-CM codes

Appropriate use of health status encounter codes

CPT Procedural Coding

CPT categories I, Ii, and III

CPT format and AMA guidelines

Coding for diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive services

Coding E&M services based on chart documentation

Proper use of modifiers with surgical and E&M services

Guidelines and procedures for coding out of the nine surgical sub-sections

Coding within the surgical and OB global timeframe

Ancillary Services and Advanced Coding

Radiology, pathology and laboratory services in the physician's office

Interventional services in the extensive Medicine section

CEUs Provided:

PMI - 30
AAPC - 16