CCA exam

Sandra in Bossier City, Louisiana said: just emailed it

Sandra, Would you email the notes also? My email is FeliciahWard@aol.com. I am scheduled to take test next month.thanks

Sandra in Bossier City, Louisiana said: if you send me your email I can forward you some note for the CCA exam. These are notes from people that have taken the exam

good morning,

please could you forward those notes to me too. i will be taking the exam on the 30th of this month

cca exam in Washington, District of Columbia said: good morning,

please could you forward those notes to me too. i will be taking the exam on the 30th of this month

Would you please me notes, too. My email is lisaly115@yahoo.com

I passed the CCA. Got a 353 and passing is 300. Of course, now still not getting any bites on jobs even with having this certification. Don't fret on the exam. Just take your time and relax. They send you percent correct in each domain when you receive your results. My lowest percentage was in Health Information Requirements and Standards.

Can you tell me more or less what kind of question is on the test.

Congratulations!

I just took an exam on May, 31 2011.I got result today , I passed it.

Different students take their own strategy but my comment is following:
* Exam is not difficult however time management is must
* Most of the questions would cover if have good practice from Noertstar and AHIMA practice test.
* Reminbursement methodologies , NCD, LCD , UB-04 form, CMS 1500 form.
* Only 2 question on HCPCS.
* 7 questions on CPT coding , the asame on ICD-9
* Good to know about sequenncing ICD-( coding which is basicall guidelines.
*The most important once again not to leave any question for last, do all question in pace.

Good Luck

You also have to remember that there are 10 questions that don't count towards score. They will use these for possible future questions. They did cover the 6 domains, so just make sure to go over what you are least comfortable with. Review the prg and any notes that people are passing on. You will be amazed what you do remember.

A. Jeffrey in Bronx, New York said: I just took an exam on May, 31 2011.I got result today , I passed it.

Different students take their own strategy but my comment is following:
* Exam is not difficult however time management is must
* Most of the questions would cover if have good practice from Noertstar and AHIMA practice test.
* Reminbursement methodologies , NCD, LCD , UB-04 form, CMS 1500 form.
* Only 2 question on HCPCS.
* 7 questions on CPT coding , the asame on ICD-9
* Good to know about sequenncing ICD-( coding which is basicall guidelines.
*The most important once again not to leave any question for last, do all question in pace.

Good Luck

A. Jeffrey - I was wondering what NCD and LCD are...having a blonde moment and I take the exam on July 7!! Congratulations on passing!

Lisa in Atlanta, Georgia said: Would you please me notes, too. My email is lisaly115@yahoo.com

Lisa, I was wondering if you got the notes for the CCA exam if you could pass them on to me as I take the exam on July 7!! Massive attack of butterflies! I'd really appreciate it. Thanks! slsdwallin@bellsouth.net

I failed a second time by 6 points :(!

Hi I am going to take the CCA by the end of the year and would appreciate any notes or tips that anyone could give to help me out. My email is ajarla1000@yahoo.com Thanks Rhonda

Laura in Elkhart, Indiana said: Will you please email me those notes? lorajn@gmail.com I failed the CCA on March 24 & need to retest ASAP. Thanks so much!!! PS. You will all pass <3

Can someone email me the notes. I take the exam on July 9th I have the PRG for 2010 for CCS but The CCA has the same just no inpatient coding. I am praying that I pass I have onlt been studying for two weeks but I have been coding for over 15yrs. So any info you would like to share, please let me know.

Ms. Tamara

Please let me know how it goes. I plan to take mine for the 2nd time at the end of July. I know they changed the way it looked. Hoping that it will be easier. Please email me and I'll tell you what I remember in exchange for what you find out! LOL cmckinney9@hotmail.com

lindacharl in Palm Coast, Florida said: HI! Could you PLEASE email me the practice exam for the CCA that you typed out?!?! It would be a HUGE help!! And thank you for doing that!!!
Linda mybellgirl@yahoo.com THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!

Could you please send me the exam too. kand@catholichealth.net Thank you so much

Renee in Morehead City, North Carolina said: Can you also please send me the email with the practice exam for the CCA exam? That would help me so much! Thanks in advance!!

Renee
reneerwillis@hotmail.com

Me too Notes are well needed and what is the Blue print for the test

Leah in Fort Lauderdale, Florida said: Lisa, I was wondering if you got the notes for the CCA exam if you could pass them on to me as I take the exam on July 7!! Massive attack of butterflies! I'd really appreciate it. Thanks! slsdwallin@bellsouth.net

I Take it July 9th once you pass will you please email me and let me know what the test was all about. If the PRG the right thing to study because thats been my main study guide. I appreciate that so muc. And good luck. I am so nervous about taking this exam. I cant even sleep and its a week away. So just pray and have the confidence.

Tamara

lindacharl in Palm Coast, Florida said: HI! Could you PLEASE email me the practice exam for the CCA that you typed out?!?! It would be a HUGE help!! And thank you for doing that!!!
Linda mybellgirl@yahoo.com THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!

If it would not be a big problem could you send me the Pratice Exam #1 for the CCA I take it on July 9th because I have been studying the PRG 2010. It wasnt helpful to you. Now Im getting so nervous so if you could PLEASE email that to me. Thank you so much and Congrats!!!!!

hi Ms Tamara in LA - could you please send the notes to me too, I am taking the CCA test soon and am nervous also. If you have any help on what the test was mainly about or any tips for taking it, I would appreciate it. Thanks so much

kimanderson@catholichealth.net

Coder 1 in Jackson, Tennessee said: I took the CCA exam today...Well, I finished with 30 minutes to spare..I don't know if that's a good sign or bad...I can't believe how many MS-DRG questions were on the test. There was not nearly as much coding as I thought it would be based on the new blueprint. Please learn all you can about MS-DRG..Honestly, that's all that stands out in my head from the exam..just the overwhelming amount of MS-DRG..know the difference betwen qualitative and quanitative..know how to code diabetes in pregnancy...for CPT coding, know how to look up coding excision of lesions in your book..If I think of more, I will be sure to post it.

What were the main MS-DRG questions about? Qualitative and Quantitative confuses me too - any special help on how you learned them? kimanderson@catholichealth.net

What did you find out with qualitative and quantitative?

Please someone give me some tips on the test as well

Let me no also please

Please let me no also

I am scheduled to take the CCA on 7/6. I have been answering the practice questions and practice exams from AHIMA's prep CD for weeks now. Today, I falied the 3rd practice exam after passing the previous rounds of practice questions and exams with around 90% scores, or better. I have been reviewing the HIM Technology textbook we used in the medical coding program I just completed. Either I'm just too dumb, or the CCA exam is just too hard and I am on the wrong career path. I don't know how much more preparation I can possibly do.

Do you have any notes for exam?

Could u also please send me the notes?

Could u send me notes also?

Could u send it to me also?

Don't worry, its not a difficult exam. I didn't read any book. I only practice Multiple QA and passed. Relax and I am confident you would. I also failed in AHIMA practice test also but in real exam I passed in first attempt.

Thanks for the reassurance, but I DO WORRY. So much is riding on this. From reading posts on this forum and from my former classmates, hardly anyone seems to be able to find a medical coding job with only a CCA cert. I MUST pass this exam just to try to get into the field. Over a dozen apps for just HIM Tech jobs have yielded zero results. I have been training since 4/2010 for this moment. I have been studying nonstop for this exam. The AHIMA prep has practice questions and practice exams. For GOD knows what reason, the practice exam questions are at least twice as hard as the generic practice questions. The coding questions that aren't too bad as practice questions, are amazingly difficult in the practice exam questions. And, as usual for medical coding, those questions usually seem to have the same theme of some bizarre exception to the rule about what codes to use, sequencing, etc.

Besides having to shell out another $200 to retake the CCA exam if I fail it on 7/6, there is a minimum 45 waiting period before you can take it again. That means the rest of the summer studying for this exam, and no hunting for a medical coding job without the credential. Good luck with that.

As for "notes for the exam" posted by Cutegreyeyes, I don't have any notes. I am using AHIMA's CCA prep CD and the textbooks I used in Kaplan's medical coding program. My studying is relentless. Still, I cannot figure out the answers to the questions. I can easily see why no one out there wants to hire you for medical coding right out of school. I wouldn't hire myself with the level I've attained. What I'm hoping for is to have a CCA cert. so I can tell prospective employers that AHIMA says I have demonstrated competency in any setting. Who am I to argue with AHIMA?

BTW, I cannot change my screen name, which is incorrect. I went into the "Edit your profile" and it just won't change. Anyone know what I can do?

Fellow, Here is a strategy which might work for you. Begin with intership in any hospital based /(presfered In Patient / DRG Coder) for few months and I am sure you would get a job. Also write encourage CDS certified guys to write AHIMA to recommend employers to acknowledge CCA by their HR department.

I am sure it would work.

adeeljeffrey in Bronx, New York said: Fellow, Here is a strategy which might work for you. Begin with intership in any hospital based /(presfered In Patient / DRG Coder) for few months and I am sure you would get a job. Also write encourage CDS certified guys to write AHIMA to recommend employers to acknowledge CCA by their HR department.

I am sure it would work.

Thanks for your input. I am open to all ideas. GOD knows my ideas haven't worked.

Ray in Kittanning, Pennsylvania said: I am scheduled to take the CCA on 7/6. I have been answering the practice questions and practice exams from AHIMA's prep CD for weeks now. Today, I falied the 3rd practice exam after passing the previous rounds of practice questions and exams with around 90% scores, or better. I have been reviewing the HIM Technology textbook we used in the medical coding program I just completed. Either I'm just too dumb, or the CCA exam is just too hard and I am on the wrong career path. I don't know how much more preparation I can possibly do.

I didn't do well on the practice exams, but passed the CCA because the questions on the CCA aren't as detailed as on the practice exams. They are long and drawn out. The only ones long and drawn out are the coding examples. I did run into some that I just didn't know or remember anything about. You will do fine. It's not as difficult as you think

I am also finding that there are many medical record technician, transcription, coders II and III level, BUT all want some certification or experience. I have also stated on my resume that I could internship, shadow, part time, but I know that many don't want to stop and train you. Not sure where to go from here. I am also at a disadvantage because of my age, but will soldier on. I wish everyone luck in taking and passing the test, but I offer more luck in everyone finding some form of work. I live in the Orlando area and they are building a new "medical city", which is promising, but not sure when all will be complete.

Loyd1957 in Oviedo, Florida said: I am also finding that there are many medical record technician, transcription, coders II and III level, BUT all want some certification or experience. I have also stated on my resume that I could internship, shadow, part time, but I know that many don't want to stop and train you. Not sure where to go from here. I am also at a disadvantage because of my age, but will soldier on. I wish everyone luck in taking and passing the test, but I offer more luck in everyone finding some form of work. I live in the Orlando area and they are building a new "medical city", which is promising, but not sure when all will be complete.

I am guessing from your screen name that you were born in 1957. If so, I am only 3 years younger than you. This mid-life career change should have come 10 years ago, when it was closer to my midlife. I get AARP offers every month. I might be on Medicare before I get a job. Even though age discrimination is illegal, if I were in HR interviewing applicants, I would choose the younger applicant. I keep hearing that most people entering medical coding are indeed in their 40s and even 50s, but I don't get comfort in that. All those jobs that I was told are available from over a year ago to this very day seem as secret as medical coding itself. I am already enrolled in a 2 year AAS degree program. I hope to overcome all of the diaadvantages I face by becoming an RHIT in 2013. I really don't know what else I can do. For now, I have to get back to my pharmacology course. My fellow classmates used to say they didn't realize we had to become doctors before becoming coders. Now, I'm finding out I have to become a pharmacist, too.

Ray Simeond in Worthington, Pennsylvania said: I am guessing from your screen name that you were born in 1957. If so, I am only 3 years younger than you. This mid-life career change should have come 10 years ago, when it was closer to my midlife. I get AARP offers every month. I might be on Medicare before I get a job. Even though age discrimination is illegal, if I were in HR interviewing applicants, I would choose the younger applicant. I keep hearing that most people entering medical coding are indeed in their 40s and even 50s, but I don't get comfort in that. All those jobs that I was told are available from over a year ago to this very day seem as secret as medical coding itself. I am already enrolled in a 2 year AAS degree program. I hope to overcome all of the diaadvantages I face by becoming an RHIT in 2013. I really don't know what else I can do. For now, I have to get back to my pharmacology course. My fellow classmates used to say they didn't realize we had to become doctors before becoming coders. Now, I'm finding out I have to become a pharmacist, too.

Hello, I am considering to enroll in an AAS degree program as well. What school did you enroll with? And how many courses does the program consist of? I just completed a one year medical coding certificate program a few months ago. The program included classes like medical terminology, anatomy, pharmacology, etc. Since I can't seem to find a coding job I was hoping a degree in coding instead of just a certificate would help with that. I am thinking about enrolling as a full time student if I do go for my AAS which means I have to take at least 2 classes at the same time. SInce you are already enrolled and know what it's like, do you feel this is manageable or would it be too much? How much studying, homework, research, etc is involved? Thank you for your time and input.

Hi, Sandra

I am an ONLINE student at Alfred State College which is part of (SUNY). First, what specifically do you want to go after? A lot depends on your age. I'm a quinquagenarian, so I can't experiment like a 20 something can. If you want to become a medical coder (GOD help you), the employers out there want to see credentials AND experience, usually 2 or 3 years of experience. I am pursuing an RHIT after I graduate. In case you didn't know, AHIMA and AHIMA alone certifies with a CCA, CCS, RHIT, and RHIA. So, YOU MUST ONLY ATTEND A CAHIIM ACCREDITED SCHOOL. There are many out there, but you must check first with AHIMA. On their website, all CAHIIM accredited programs are listed. ASC is one of them and has an online program, which suits me.

Second, I intend to finish the program in 2 years, but I have a distinct advantage: transfer credits. The ASC HIT AAS degree program requires 71 course credits. I was able to transfer a lot of credits that were literally over 30 years old from my former life. I am taking a pharmacology course now. I was able to pass a challenge exam for medical terminology to get 3 credits that way. I don't know your circumstances. If you are married with children, the time demands are great. If you're over the hill and presently unemployed like me, time is no problem. My 50 year old brain is the problem.

Third, if you are completely committed to your education pursuits, and IF YOU HAVE THE TOTAL SUPPORT OF YOUR FAMILY, you can definitely do this. But, you will be in for the fight of your life.

My impression of this whole coding career outlook is that it really is as good as I was told. What I most definitely was not told was the minimum education and experience required to break in. Some of the recent posts here echo what I have heard from others. You may have to literally start at the bottom doing anything in a healthcare facility and work your way up. I have been unsuccessfully trying to do just that.

Ray Simeond in Worthington, Pennsylvania said: I am guessing from your screen name that you were born in 1957. If so, I am only 3 years younger than you. This mid-life career change should have come 10 years ago, when it was closer to my midlife. I get AARP offers every month. I might be on Medicare before I get a job. Even though age discrimination is illegal, if I were in HR interviewing applicants, I would choose the younger applicant. I keep hearing that most people entering medical coding are indeed in their 40s and even 50s, but I don't get comfort in that. All those jobs that I was told are available from over a year ago to this very day seem as secret as medical coding itself. I am already enrolled in a 2 year AAS degree program. I hope to overcome all of the diaadvantages I face by becoming an RHIT in 2013. I really don't know what else I can do. For now, I have to get back to my pharmacology course. My fellow classmates used to say they didn't realize we had to become doctors before becoming coders. Now, I'm finding out I have to become a pharmacist, too.

I totally agree that I should have done this when I was thinking about it in my 40's. Would be probably already passing the CCS onward to RHIT etc. Anyway, just don't have funds anymore for 2 year degree. I did go to a open house 2 years ago on a medical coding degree through our community college and if I had I would be done by now. So, finding interesting positions out there, just need someone to believe in me.

Thank you for the info. I am CCA certified but have no work experience which makes it hard to find a job. I was hoping by pursuing a RHIT after graduating from an AAS program my chances of actually finding a job will go up. I am just trying to decide whether or not I should enroll as a part-time or full-time student. I am married with 2 children and am also looking into volunteering at a hospital hoping to "get my foot in the door" that way.

Don't let lack of funds stop you! I had no money at all to put down and signed on for student loans and no grant money. Yes, I will have many thousands to repay, but, nothing ventured nothing gained. My schooling will be financed now. After I graduate, I will begin paying back the loans with interest. I win and the loaning entity wins as well.

If you think full time is too much, by all means enroll part time. The requirements for student loan money allow for part time education, you just need to manintain the minimum of required course credits for an academic year. You should definitely look into it.

Also, if you do have a family, even though a local campus MAY be lower cost, online education gives you the ultimate in flexibility. You study when you want. You just have to complete assignments and take tests by the due dates. You definitely can do this. Just make sure you attend a CAHIIM accredited program. Unless you go after a CPC certification by the AAPC. Then, you would have to check out their requirements.

Hello, I am preparing to take the CCA Exam in September. I was wondering what are the main points to focus on for the exam. Is there a lot of coding and if there is does it concentrate more so on the ICD or CPT? If anyone has any sample questions that are similar to the ones on the exam please let me know. Much much appreciated!

Hi, joshua

By all means, become an AHIMA member if you are a student, because it only costs $35. If you are not, consider whether or not you want to join. And, you MUST buy the CCA exam prep book & CD from AHIMA's website. If you look around, you will find it for around $60, but be careful, because they also have much more expensive packages.

Have you completed a medical coding program of some kind? I just did, and we used the textbook "Health Information Management Technology" by Merida Johns. I think it costs around $90, and it is worth every penny. If you know ICD-9-CM AND CPT medical coding, then this textbook will cover everything else you will need to know for the CCA.

I found a "CCA Exam Blueprint Crosswalk" from I don't remember where. I have it saved in a pdf file and also on a Word document. It has the updated CCA exam format that AHIMA doesn't even have on their website, I don't think. Classification systems are 32% of the exam; Reimbursement methodologies 23%; Health records & data content 15%; Compliance 14%; Information technology 8%; and Confidentiality & privacy 8%.

I just took & narrowly passed practice exam #1 tonight. I narrowly FAILED practice exam #3 last night. I have problems across all 6 "DOMAINS" listed above. All I can tell you is that it is almost impossibly hard. How we are supposed to memorize so much material before we do a brain dump on the CCA exam, I just don't know. My advice is that you buy the materials immediately and study with all you've got until the day of the exam.

Thanks a ton Ray!

I just wanted to make a couple of comments to Ray's post. Yes, good advice to become an AHIMA member - it knocks about $100 off the cost of the test. The Meridia Johns textbook is an excellent book. I used that also, and it covered just about everything in those domains. I took my CCA about two years ago and CCS about six months ago, and really found that book to be very helpful. I also used the PRG, which was good for practice, but none of the questions were duplicated on the test. Clinical Coding Workout was another excellent book for good practice, and also gave you an idea as to how to code on the test. I will agree with everyone that coding is extremely difficult to break into, but not impossible. The hospital I work for will hire outpatient coders who have completed an accredited AHIMA coding program and passed the CCA with no experience. Just keep looking - it will probably take longer than you hoped, but it's worth waiting for. I also changed to this profession "mid life", and it's one of the best decisions I have made. From what I've seen, being in your 40's or 50's has not been a negative in any way as far as the hiring process goes.

i need some questions for CCA exams

I took a 1 year program at my local community college. It took me a little longer because I did it part-time. Most classes were on-line. I had no medical experience. I studied for the CCA for 6 weeks. Used my books from my classes and the PRG. One of the books that was very good was "Health Information Management of a Strategic Resource". Two more books that seem to really help me were A Guide to Health Insurance Billing by Marie Moisio and Understanding Health Insurance, A Guide to Billing And Reimbursement by Michelle Green.I also used some of the notes someone posted on here. I passed the CCA on the first try with a 359. For those of you who have been studying. Please, think positive!! You will do fine. It is very intimidating but you have to be confident.If you are using the PRG just keep taking the quizzes until you've got it down. They are not the same questions on the test but they are they same concept. No one is going to give you a coding job without any experience. So you do need to start at the bottom and work your way up. I got a job as a patient coordinator just for some type of medical experience and am hoping to work my way up from there. I never let myself think I was going to fail. You must think you WILL pass!

Thanks to everyone who posts to this forum. Just like I read every post at Kaplan, I am reading these posts through the day during study breaks. The most helpful posts are from you who are medical coders now. You see, for students like me, it's all theory. We can only go with what we know (which isn't much, yet) and what we read and what we are told. The coders posting here are giving us the really valuable insight we need.

At least one of my instructors at Kaplan also told me to try to get into coding in an outpatient setting. Not hard to see why, since inpatient coding is much harder.

I do want to address the whole negativity issue. I think there is a gray area (just like medical coding) between being negative and being realistic. I deal with facts. It is a fact that I worked my ___ off at Kaplan. We students were no charity cases. Now, I am working just as hard preparing for the CCA exam, which is 2 days away for me. It is a fact that I narrowly failed a practice exam on Saturday and narrowly passed another one (that I already took last month) yesterday. I am in no way going into the CCA exam expecting to fail. But, I am in no way "visualizing myself" passing it either. Like a football game, it is won or lost in the trenches, at the line of scrimmage. To me, that's the key to victory for the CCA exam, study, study, study. Practice, practice, practice. All I've been posting here is that I at my best am just below or just above the bar. No margin for error.

What I'm hoping for is that (as someone posted above) the practice exams are harder than the actual exam. But, remember this also: the practice exams I'm taking are almost certainly still based on the CCA exam from before 3/31/11. The new exam, though still basically the same, has different emphasis for each domain. Especially increased is the Reimbursement Methodologies domain, which is now 23%, up from 10% before. That means I have to really go over that area.

BTW, I just checked the AHIMA website. Under Certification, CCA, Exam Preparation, Exam Content Ouline, is the "crosswalk" which compares the current exam to the former one. Again, some small changes, but the big one is in Reimbursement Methodologies.

Got to get back to studying.

Coder in California in Morgan Hill, California said: I just wanted to make a couple of comments to Ray's post. Yes, good advice to become an AHIMA member - it knocks about $100 off the cost of the test. The Meridia Johns textbook is an excellent book. I used that also, and it covered just about everything in those domains. I took my CCA about two years ago and CCS about six months ago, and really found that book to be very helpful. I also used the PRG, which was good for practice, but none of the questions were duplicated on the test. Clinical Coding Workout was another excellent book for good practice, and also gave you an idea as to how to code on the test. I will agree with everyone that coding is extremely difficult to break into, but not impossible. The hospital I work for will hire outpatient coders who have completed an accredited AHIMA coding program and passed the CCA with no experience. Just keep looking - it will probably take longer than you hoped, but it's worth waiting for. I also changed to this profession "mid life", and it's one of the best decisions I have made. From what I've seen, being in your 40's or 50's has not been a negative in any way as far as the hiring process goes.

It's nice to hear that being in 50's may not be a problem. I just applied for a ER outpatient position that stated no experience, but needed classes and certification. I can only guess how many like me are applying. At least they are out there.