CCS certification (Certified Coding Specialist) Exam tips

AHIMA conducts CCS (Certified Coding Specialist) exam to test the skills of professional coders in the field of inpatient and outpatient coding. This exam is very difficult to clear even for experienced medical coders. CCS certification exam can be cleared only if you are prepared 100% and know everything about this exam. To clear an exam, first we have to know the question paper of that exam. For CPC exam, we know it is a multiple choice question paper, hence you don’t have to look beyond the given 4 options. But, CCS has multiple choice questions and subjective questions (medical scenarios) as well. So, to clear CCS certification exam you need to have a very good experience in coding both inpatient and outpatient facilities.

Background of CCS certification exam

As we know the CCS exam is conducted by AHIMA. Since, the coding accuracy should be very high in healthcare organization, the certification becomes mandatory in the healthcare industry. Hence, a coder carrying a CCS certification, shows the data quality and integrity skills of a coding practitioner. This exam tests the medical coders proficiency in coding ICD 10/PCS and CPT codes. A CCS certified coder should be having good knowledge about the medical terminology, diseases and drugs. When a CCS certified medical coder provides the coded data to insurance (payer)companies or the government like Medicare and Medicaid recipients, then only the doctors(provider) or physicians get paid for their services from payers. CCS exam really assess the mastery proficiency of the medical coders, hence an entry level coder should always think twice before applying for this exam.

Read also: How to clear CPC exam in First attempt

Specifications of CCS exam

Apply for the Exam

Non-member price: $399    
Member price: $299  

The CCS is a timed exam. Candidates have four hours to complete the exam. The total number of questions on the exam range between 115 and 140 total items. The exam consists of two sections, a Multiple-Choice Section and a Medical Scenario Section (inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department). The exam is given in a computer-based format. 

Theory: 97 Multiple choice questions (MCQ)

Application: 8 medical Scenarios

Exam time: 4 hours

Attempt: only one

The passing score for the CCS is 300. 

Competencies for CCS fall into four domains. Each domain accounts for a specific percentage of the total questions on the certification exam.

Domain 1 – Coding Knowledge and Skills (51.9%)
Tasks:

Apply diagnosis and procedure codes based on provider’s documentation in the health record
Determine principal/primary diagnosis and procedure
Apply coding conventions/guidelines and regulatory guidance
Apply CPT/HCPCS modifiers to outpatient procedures
Sequence diagnoses and procedures
Apply present on admission (POA) guidelines
Address coding edits
Assign reimbursement classifications
Abstract pertinent data from health record
Recognize major condition and co-morbidity (MCC) and condition and co-morbidity (CC)

Domain 2 – Coding Documentation (10.1%)
Tasks:

Review health record to assign diagnosis and procedure codes for an encounter
Review and address health record discrepancies

Domain 3 – Provider Queries (8.9%)
Tasks:

Determine if a provider query is compliant
Analyze current documentation to identify query opportunities

Domain 4 – Regulatory Compliance (29.1%)
Tasks:

Ensure integrity of health records
Apply payer-specific guidelines
Recognize patient safety indicators (PSIs) and hospital-acquired conditions (HACs) based on documentation
Ensure compliance with HIPAA guidelines
Ensure adherence to AHIMA’s Standards of Ethical Coding
Apply the Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set (UHDDS)

Now, as you can see as per the information above, the exam has both objective (MCQ) and subjective questions. Also, the time for CCS certification exam has been only 4 hours. So, now you will understand why medical coders don’t go for this exam. Hence, it is highly recommended to utilize your time during the exam wisely. You can follow the coding guidelines given in ICD 10 CM, ICD 10 PCS, UHDDS and CPT codebook. Also, if you are having links for Coding clinic and CPT assistant, you can get more information from here as well.

FREE CPT Code Search Tool (Click Here)

MUST BUY CPT & ICD-10 CM  CODING EBOOKS 

Read also: Time management tips for CPC exam

Books required during CCS exam

Only original and updated codebooks are allowed during CCS exam. If you getting a photocopy or a Xerox version of codebooks, then you will not be allowed to sit for CCS exam. Also, do remember only AMA (American Medical Association) code books are permitted during CCS exam. To know more about the allowable book, you can just visit the AHIMA website, www.ahima.org. Do remember to manipulate your codebooks before going for CCS certification exam. Here, I mean to say that, highlight the portion which are important, like the notes section below CPT codes, coding guidelines in ICD 10 for pregnancy, HIV, sepsis which have multiple ICD 10 codes, Do Not code section below CPT codes etc. This way you can save a lot of time during CCS exam and it will help you to find required information fast.

Hope, you would have got lot of information about this exam. If you having a healthy experience in inpatient and outpatient coding, do try to give CCS exam once. Carrying a CCS certification will surely boost your medical coding career.

Reference:

https://www.ahima.org/certification-careers/certification-exams/ccs/