AAPC’s CIRCC: Core Credential Illuminates IVR Coding

By admin aapc
In Industry News
September 1, 2008
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By Brad Ericson, CPC, CPC-ORTHO
It’s called the Certified Interventional Radiology and Cardiovascular Coder^TM, (CIRCC^TM) and it was developed by interventional radiology (IVR) coders to demonstrate the unique expertise needed to successfully report procedures in this growing subspecialty.
Interventional radiology coding proves as dynamic as the type of medicine it reports. The techniques performed by physicians are exciting, ever evolving, and often life-saving. Coding and charging error rates are known to be high in this subspecialty and it’s no wonder, considering the unique knowledge of confusing arterial and venous families and trees, ever-improving radiological techniques, payment-altering PC/TC splits, changing coding guidelines, and other details required to accurately file a claim.
“We’re pleased to offer this to our members,” Reed Pew, CEO of the AAPC told Coding Edge. “This credential recognizes a very unique subspecialty and was developed knowing that IVR coding is often much different than the coding most CPC’s^® perform.”
Exams for this new AAPC core credential begin Oct. 1. The 150 question, five-and-a-half hour exam includes case studies and questions in the following areas:

Diagnostic angiography
Non-vascular interventions
Percutaneous vascular interventions
Diagnostic cardiac catheterizations
Basic coronary arterial interventions
ICD-9-CM
Basic coding (E/M, modifiers, etc.)
Anatomy
Terminology

Member price for this core credential exam, which can be taken at any exam site, is $400. Maintenance of the credential requires earning 18 CEUs a year with 12 of those being in IVR or cardiovascular coding. It joins CPC^®, CPC-H^®, and CPC-P^® as a core credential. The exam may be taken at any normal examination site.
David Zielske, MD, CPC-H, CPC-CARDIO, CCS, RCC, a National Advisory Board (NAB) member and interventional radiologist, helped to develop the examination along with his colleagues at ZHealth Publishing. Dr. Zielske told Coding Edge, “The CIRCC^TM credential is long overdue. Hospitals and physician practices are looking for coders and techs who know interventional radiology coding. Currently, there is no way to tell if a person has the specialized training in this highly technical and growing area. The interventional radiology credential shows this.”
Several training programs are available if you wish to take this new core exam:
ZHealth Publishing offers interventional, cardiology, and vascular surgery workshops. Check out
ZHealthPublishing.com for more information.
Sept. 13, 2008—Nashville, Tenn.—Interventional, Cardiology, and Vascular Surgery
Nov. 8, 2008—Las Vegas, Nev.—Interventional, Cardiology, and Vascular Surgery
Feb. 28, 2009—Scottsdale, Ariz.—Interventional, Cardiology, and Vascular Surgery
Medical Asset Management offers a variety of programs. Check out
medicalassetmanagement.com.
Sept. 11-12, 2008—Atlanta, Ga.—Interventional Coding for Beginners
Oct. 6-10, 2008—Atlanta, Ga.—One Week Intensive Coding Course with Proficiency Exam
Oct. 23-24, 2008—Atlanta, Ga.—Interventional Coding for CICs
Feb. 2-6, 2009—Atlanta, Ga.—One Week Intensive Coding Course with CIRCC Exam
June 1-5, 2009—Atlanta, Ga.—One Week Intensive Coding Course with CIRCC Exam
For more information about the new CIRCC^TM core exam, check out aapc.com.