Policies regarding Coding for Healthcare Professionals

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1 Policies regarding Coding for Healthcare Professionals Pretest Eligibility for enrollment in Coding for Healthcare Professionals is contingent upon successful completion of an online pretest that assesses knowledge of content areas such as anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, laboratory and other diagnostic procedures, disease processes, surgery, the healthcare record s content and organization, medicolegal aspects of the healthcare record, etc. The pretest consists of 50 questions randomly selected from the pretest question bank. The pretest must be completed within 50 minutes in a single session. A score of 85% or higher must be achieved for successful completion of the pretest. The pretest may be taken a second time if not passed on the first attempt. No additional attempts are allowed until three months following the second failed attempt, during which the potential enrollee is encouraged to study the recommended content areas. Program completion time The program is designed to be completed in 12 months or less. We encourage students to commit at least 20 to 25 hours per week to the program, although some may need more or less time per week in order to complete the course in 12 months. Tuition and Fees The tuition and fees for the program total $1200, with a small additional fee for payment plans and a discount for payment in advance. This does not include equipment, textbooks, etc. Payment options Pay in full in advance to be eligible for a 10% discount: Advance amount due is $1080. Pay by Module: Complete the course at your own pace over a 12-month or shorter period, prepaying each of three modules in advance of beginning it. Fee per module is $400, total $1200. Monthly payment plan: Two options: 1. Pay $120 per month for 12 months: total $ Pay $145 per month for 9 months: total $1305.

2 Payment may be made through PayPal and must be received before access to materials is granted. Note: If you select a monthly payment plan, payments made through PayPal will be set up as a monthly subscription and will be paid automatically to our account for the duration of the payment plan period. If the program is not completed in 12 months, an additional payment of $100 per month is required to maintain enrollment and continue to have access to learning and assessment materials Refund policy Full refund less a $50 administrative fee will be made if the refund is requested within 10 days of enrollment. No refund will be made after 10 days following date of enrollment. Requests for refunds must be in writing. Password and access information Following enrollment in the program, including payment of related fees, a password and access information will be provided to the student; these may not be shared. Upon completion, withdrawal, or suspension from the program, the password will be withdrawn. Should the student be reinstated or re-enroll, a new password will be provided. Suspension, termination, and re-enrollment Students whose current payment is past due 5 business days or more will be suspended. Reinstatement from such suspension requires full payment of past and currently due payments. If total time from initial enrollment to lifting of suspension, including both active enrollment and suspension time, exceeds 12 months, the additional payment of $100 per month for extension will apply. Failure to make payments due within 30 days of the initial date of suspension will result in termination from the program. Notification of such termination will be sent to the individual, offering payment options. Re-enrollment may be considered when payment in full has been received. Leave of absence In special circumstances, a student may be granted a leave of absence. A request for leave of absence must be in writing and documented may be required. A student granted a medical leave of absence may be required to provide written authorization to return to the program. During an approved leave of absence, the individual s password and access to the program will be withdrawn.

3 Withdrawal A student may withdraw from the program at any time upon written notification of such withdrawal. No refunds will be due or paid upon such withdrawal, except as specified in the section above titled Refund policy, and the student remains responsible for making remaining payments per the payment plan. Re-enrollment after withdrawal will be handled as a new enrollment. Payments for the previous enrollment will not apply to the new enrollment. Program length The program is designed to be completed in 12 months or less. If not completed in 12 months, an additional payment of $100 per month is required to maintain enrollment and continue to have access to learning and assessment materials. Course outline The program is divided into three modules. 1. Basic ICD-9-CM coding for inpatient settings. 2. CPT coding for ambulatory settings. 3. Intermediate and advanced coding concepts, as well as information related to credential exam preparation. The modules must be completed in sequence: access to Module 1 will not be granted until successful completion of Module 1, and access to Module 3 will not be granted until successful completion of Module 2. (As noted above, access to Modules is also restricted until payments are current.) Equipment and materials needed Desktop or laptop computer with high-speed Internet access and . Students are responsible for purchasing required textbooks, as listed below by module. Note: Because books are updated annually, this list will also be updated at least annually, so students should only purchase the Module 1 books upon starting the course and check for current, specified versions before purchasing books for each subsequent module. o Module 1 OPTUMInsight ICD-9-CM for Hospitals Volumes 1, 2 & 3 (Order the Professional Edition) ISBN-10: or ISBN-13: (This book will also be used for Module 3 unless an updated version is released before then.) ICD-9-CD Coding Handbook, without answers, 2012 Revised Edition by Faye Brown ISBN:

4 o Module 2 Kuehn's Procedural Coding and Reimbursement for Physician Services, 2012 Edition, by Lynn Kuehn, published by AHIMA ISBN: AMA's Current Procedural Terminology, Professional Edition (CPT), 2012 ISBN: HCPCS 2012 Coder s Choice, published by PMIC ISBN: o Module 3 OPTUMInsight book from Module 1 (or updated version if such is released) Clinical Coding Workout, without answers, 2012 update ISBN: Note: Costs of the above books vary, depending on source. We suggest you check AHIMA s Bookstore, as well as Amazon.com and other sources. Sometimes used copies are available, but beware of those that have been marked up by the previous user. Also, be sure to get editions with ISBN numbers that match those noted above. Advisors Each student will be assigned an advisor to be consulted regarding the program, course materials, and assessment instruments, as well as career opportunities. Inquiries should be submitted to the advisor online through the service provided there. Responses will generally be made within 2 business days of posting. Telephone consultations must be scheduled in advance. Grading Online assessment tools are automatically graded online and scores reported to students as well as advisors. Only one attempt at each assessment tool is allowed. Successful completion of program A final comprehensive exam will be administered following completion of Module 3 and addressing content from all three modules. A passing score of 85% or higher will entitle the student to a certificate acknowledging completion of the Coding for Healthcare Professionals program. Preparation for employment and certification as a coding professional and for employment It is anticipated that many of those enrolled in the course will be doing so in order to become employed as a coding professional and/or to prepare to become certified as a coding professional. Certified coder designations are offered by AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association) as well as AAPC (American Association of Professional Coders).

5 Disclaimer While Coding for Healthcare Professionals is designed for preparation as note din the previous section, we offer no assurance to our students that completion of the program will guarantee either employment as a coding professional or successful coder certification as determined by AHIMA, AAPC, or other organization.