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Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC™) - Certification Exam

A Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC™) has proven by rigorous examination and experience that they know how to read a medical chart and assign the correct diagnosis (ICD-10-CM) codes for a wide variety of clinical cases and services for risk adjustment models (e.g., hierarchical condition categories (HCCs), Chronic Illness & Disability Payment System (CDPS), and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) risk adjustment).

CRC

The greater the disease burden of the patient, the higher the patient’s risk adjustment score; if the patient is healthy, the risk adjustment score is lower. A patient’s health status reflects the costs of their healthcare needs. CRCs must ensure provider documentation is up-to-par for HCC coding and that disease processes are coded accurately to follow risk adjustment models.

Invest in your future with the CRC credential — certified coders earn 40 percent more than non-credentialed coders.

CRCs Make a Competitive Salary

Because HCC coding for risk adjustment requires medical coders to help providers document thoroughly all chronic disease processes and manifestations in the patient's medical record, CRCs must have a clear understanding of guidelines, regulations, diagnosis coding, and risk adjustment. According to AAPC's 2018 Salary Survey, the average salary for the medical coding professional averages at $51,426. The CRC credential, however, makes $61,295 annually, so it's a great medical coding area to get into. Depending on where you live, your responsibilities, and the place of employment, a CRC's salary will vary. Click here to calculate the average CRC salary in your area.

As a CRC, you will be able to:

  • Review and assign accurate medical codes for diagnoses performed by physicians and other qualified healthcare providers in the office or facility setting (e.g., inpatient hospital)
  • Thoroughly comprehend medical coding guidelines and regulations including compliance and reimbursement and the impact of diagnosis coding on risk adjustment payment models
  • Understand the audit process for risk adjustment models
  • Identify and communicate documentation deficiencies to providers to improve documentation for accurate risk adjustment coding
  • Understand the anatomy, pathophysiology, and medical terminology necessary to correctly code diagnoses
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The CRC Exam

  • 150 multiple choice questions
  • 5 hours 40 minutes to finish the exam
  • One free retake
  • $399 ($325 AAPC Students) - one free retake Exclamationmark
  • Open code book (manuals)

The CRC examination consists of questions regarding the correct application of ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes used for risk adjustment coding

The CRC exam thoroughly covers:

  • 23 multiple choice questions
  • Identify common coding errors identified in RADV audits
  • Understand the process for prospective audits
  • Understand the process for RADV audits
  • Understand the process for retrospective audits
  • 60 multiple choice questions
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply the Coding Clinic guidance to coding scenarios
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code amputations
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code artificial openings
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code atherosclerosis
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code AV fistulas
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code CHF
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code CKD
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code complications of devices
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code COPD
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code CVA/Stroke
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code dementia
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code depression
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code DVT
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code hypertension
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code malnutrition
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code manifestations of diseases (eg, DM, stroke, COPD)
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code mental disorders
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code neoplasms
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code pneumonia
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code pressure ulcers
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code pulmonary embolism
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code pulmonary fibrosis
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code seizures
  • Demonstrate the ability to properly code skin ulcers
  • Identify common coding errors in risk adjustment
  • Identify diagnosis codes that risk adjust
  • OBGYN specific conditions that risk adjust
  • Pediatric specific conditions that risk adjust
  • 18 multiple choice questions
  • Communicate documentation discrepancies with providers
  • Identify documentation discrepancies
  • 8 multiple choice questions
  • Identify common acronyms for industry terminology
  • Identify common acronyms for medical terminology
  • Identify the anatomic structures, locations and functions
  • Understand disease processes and interactions for common chronic conditions
  • Understand the meaning of common medical terminology
  • 15 multiple choice questions
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply trumping in the risk adjustment hierarchy
  • Understand the use of data mining from data captured through risk adjustment coding
  • Understand the use of predictive modeling from data captured through risk adjustment coding
  • 5 multiple choice questions
  • Understand the purpose of HEDIS and alignment with risk adjustment
  • Understand the purpose of STAR ratings and alignment with risk adjustment
  • 21 multiple choice questions
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply the ACA risk adjustment model
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply the CDPS risk adjustment model
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply the HCC risk adjustment model
  • Demonstrate the ability to apply the private payers risk adjustment model
  • Understand elements needed to determine the risk adjustment score

Approved Manuals for Use During Examination

ICD-10-CM Code Book 2020
Official 2020 ICD-10-CM Expert Code Book features expanded quick view flow charts for quick, accurate information.

ICD-10-CM Code Book 2020

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Note:

Electronic devices with an on/off switch (cell phones, smart phones, tablets, etc) are not allowed into the examination room Failure to comply with this policy may result in disqualification of your exam.

Any officially published errata for these manuals may also be used No other manuals are allowed Each code set is updated annually; it is essential that examinees use the current calendar year's coding manuals when taking the certification exam Questions on the CRC test do not require the use of any other outside material.

Individuals with a solid understanding of coding and reimbursement fundamentals, anatomy and terminology should be able to answer each examination question through application of the ICD-10-CM codebook or through careful reasoning and recall.

Approved Exam Manuals

Non-Approved Manuals for Use During Examination

Due to the advantages of additional information and/or ease of use, the following books cannot be used during the exam:

  • Any Procedural Coding Expert
  • Any Procedural Professional
  • CPT® Plus! - PMIC
  • CPT® Insider's View - AMA
  • ICD-10-CM Easy Coder
  • Study Guides

Risk Adjustment Coding Certification Requirements

  • We recommend having an associate's degree
  • Pay examination fee at the time of application submission
  • Maintain current membership with the AAPC
    • New members must submit membership payment with examination application
    • Renewing members must have a current membership at the time of submission and when exam results are released

We strongly recommend that the candidate have at least two years of experience in risk adjustment coding or a risk adjustment coding course. Membership is required to be renewed annually and 36 Continuing Education Units (CEU's) must be submitted every two years for verification and authentication of expertise.

Note:

Each examination is separate and distinct from one another. To obtain all certifications, each examination must be taken separately and passed.

An overall score of 70% or higher is required to pass an exam. For examinees who do not pass, only the areas of study/categories with a score of 65% or less are provided for examinees’ preparation.

The areas of study reported reflect scores based on the number of questions in each category/section of the exam; each of the category/section may vary in the number of questions asked.

Continuing Education Unit (CEU) submissions are required for all certifications. For CEU requirements please see our CEU Information page.

* Medical Coding Salary

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