Deborah Grider and AMA
Ms. Grider is now on board here at AAPC. She authors workshops around the country and I have already taken one she authored that was great. Although she personally doesn't facilitate the workshop, there are assigned facilitators I believe who are trained by the AAPC to deliver the content of her workshops. The one I went to was in LA and Corrie Alvarez was the facilitator. She was awesome and added upon the knowledge of the workshop from her experience which complimented the workshop content. Just check out the workshops here at the AAPC.
Now, on her books from AMA. The one I use is the
Second Edition of the Medical Record Auditor from AMA. I also use the AMA
Coding with Modifiers, Second Edition by Grider as well. She really discusses and uses application examples that are very relevant when one needs to understand modifiers. She goes through EVERY modifer and its use extensively in this book. Both books come with a CD with EVERYTHING including answers on it. I find it of great use whenever I don't have the book with me but I'm sitting somewhere with my laptop, I review the CD content to keep fresh.
www.ama-assn.org has a dowbloadable coding catalog.
Preparing for ICD-10-CM: Make the Transition Manageable by Deborah Grider
Softbound, 81/2" x 11", 300 pages
Item#: OP602608
List Price: $72.95
AMA Member Price: $54.95
Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy for CPT® Coding, second edition
Softbound 81/2" x 11", 680 pages
ISBN#: 978-1-60359-109-6
Item#: OP490609
Authors: Celeste G. Kirschner
List Price: $94.95
AMA Member Price: $71.95
Another respectable source is Faye Brown's ICD-9-CM Coding Workbook. I believe you can get it from Amazon.
The CMS website: one has to develop skill to be able to navigate this big bad boy! I've spent countless hours downloading needed material which I have organized. But I only keep up with up to date stuff, so most of what I have is 2010 or latest effective year. If anyone has trouble finding stuff, maybe I can point u in the right direction, but it will be far better if you try to navigate it for yourself. There is CEUs you can acquire for free that are submittable to AAPC and many other organizations, go to
www.cms.gov then type in
MLN Products or you can locate it under
Top Ten list on the right side of page and it will take you to the
Medicare Learning Network and on the left select
Web Base Training, register and you are set to go!
I have gotten picky about what books and what training I submit myself to because this field is expensive if your company doesn't pay for the training, etc. I've always been a self-educated person and I research stuff alot and observe alot as well before I dive into something. Sure I have made costly mistakes but by now I've gotten a decent idea of what I want when it comes to relevant, working knowledge and $$. I feel that wise choices eventually deposits $$ in the bankbooks!
Good Luck and Best Regards,