The U.S. health care system will transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 as the HIPAA mandated code is set to begin on October 1st, 2013. Anyone who is new to health care, or professionals already working in the industry, will be affected by the new coding system, which will go from 13,000 to 68,000 codes. In fact, new coding rules and guidelines mean industry-wide changes.

Nationally recognized associations, such as AHIMA and the AAPC, are suggesting that early training is the key to a successful transition. Allied’s ICD-10 online course is a flexible training option for individuals who understand the major benefits of early preparation, including increased career marketability over those who wait. “We are excited to be one of the first schools to offer ICD-10-CM training online. We have set up special pricing for coders and because the course is online and affordable, we plan on being the largest provider of ICD-10 training in the industry,” said George Achenbach, president of Allied Medical School.

Allied’s 45-hour ICD-10-CM Comprehensive Coding Training course provides extensive ICD-10 training so that students understand the fundamentals, organization, and structure of this new coding classification system. Additionally, students will study the similarities and differences between ICD-10-CM and ICD-9-CM, including chapter-specific changes and coding conventions and guidelines. A combination of online lessons, online module quizzes, textbooks and learning resources reinforce knowledge learned and prepare students for ICD-10 implementation.

The ICD-10-CM course is currently $988 with a $100 discount for those who pay their tuition in full. There are also interest-free payment plans available, including an option to get started for only $358 down.

The entire course is 100% online, so students make their own study schedules and can maintain other obligations while pursuing their training. It’s a flexible and convenient way for students to keep their health care careers on track.

Source: http://www.i-newswire.com/icd-10-online-course-approved-prepare/54413

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ICD-10 codes must be used on all HIPAA transactions, including outpatient claims with dates of service, and inpatient claims with dates of discharge on and after October 1, 2013. Otherwise, your claims and other transactions may be rejected, and you will need to resubmit them with the ICD-10 codes. This could result in delays and may impact your reimbursements, so it is important to start now to prepare for the changeover to ICD-10 codes.

What is ICD-10?

ICD-10 is a diagnostic coding system implemented by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1993 to replace ICD-9, which was developed by WHO in the 1970s. ICD-10 is in almost every country in the world, except the United States.

When we hear “ICD-10” in the United States, it usually refers to the U.S. clinical modification of ICD-10: ICD-10-CM. This code set is scheduled to replace ICD-9-CM, our current U.S. diagnostic code set, on Oct. 1, 2013.

Another designation, ICD-10-PCS, for “procedural coding system,” is will also be adopted in the United States. ICD-10-PCS will replace Volume 3 of ICD-9-CM as the inpatient procedural coding system. Current plans would see CPT remain the coding system for physician services.

More information on WHO’s ICD-10 code set can be found at http://www.who.int/classifications/icd/en/.

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In fact, in the last year, certified medical coder salaries rose four percent to an average of $44,750 annually; non-certified coders reported a two percent average salary gain, bringing the salary to $38,290.

This is good news for existing and future medical coders. With the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasting 3 million new health care jobs between 2006 and 2016, these numbers further solidify the fact that medical coders will continue to experience solid career opportunities – even when the rest of the economy seems to be struggling.

Want to learn more? Here are other findings from the AAPC survey:

• Education level significantly impacts salary level – a coder with a bachelor’s degree earns $51,820 on average while a coder with a high school diploma earns $40,746
• Location also affects salary – comparing urban, rural and suburban areas, those in urban areas earn an average salary of $45,631; suburban areas, $44,551; and rural areas, $38,930
• Salary varied from region to region, ranging from an average high of $50,143 in the Pacific region to low of $40,713 in the Mid-Atlantic region

• Medical coders with multiple specialty credentials earn an average of $52,777.14

• Medical coding isn’t always a part-time career – 58 percent of coders work an average of 31 to 40 hours per week; 38 percent work an average of 41 to 71 hours per week, and only 5 percent work 30 hours or less per week

• Many medical coders go to the office – 81 percent work at the office each day, one-third may work from home some days of the week; and half say they work flex-time schedules

The findings went further. According to the 2009 Salary Survey, the type of credential can make a difference in a medical coding career when paired with work environment. Those who work in the insurance industry are more likely to make more than those in smaller doctor’s offices. Also, being certified can add more than $7,000 to the average salary than being non-certified.

Salary can also vary based on specialty. The largest number of responses came from medical coders working in family practice. These professionals earn an average salary of $39,900. More specialized specialties, such as radiology and rheumatology, earn higher average salaries, $49,328 and $48,501 including respectively.

More than 10,000 medical coders responded to the annual salary survey, conducted this summer over the Internet by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). The findings paint a positive picture for medical coders nationwide. While education, certification, specialty and geographic factors are important, there seems to be opportunities for all types of coders throughout the nation.

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