Learning facility coding

I have been doing outpatient coding for about 6 years and I think I would like to try to learn inpatient/facility coding and need to find a book to help me learn.

I'm not looking for a CCS study guide as my intention is not to sit for CCS (at least not right now) but rather a book that explains the basics of facility coding, such as DRG, and ICD 9 procedures.

Doing a little research online I found ICD 9 coding handbook by Faye Brown and it seems like a good start, but didn't know if anyone else had a suggestion for a step by step facility coding book let me know.

Thanks

anyone have any suggestions?

I found this online. www.hcmarketplace.com/prod-5423/Inpatient-Coding-DRG-Assignment.html

I am wanting to study and learn inpatient coding too. It seems that most available coding jobs want inpatient coders. I have been doing ER coding for the last 14 years. I think I need to expand to make myself more marketable. I have done inpatient coding before, but it's been a long time - before MS-DRGs and MCCs.

RRK in Granbury, Texas said: I found this online. www.hcmarketplace.com/prod-5423/Inpatient-Coding-DRG-Assignment.html

I am wanting to study and learn inpatient coding too. It seems that most available coding jobs want inpatient coders. I have been doing ER coding for the last 14 years. I think I need to expand to make myself more marketable. I have done inpatient coding before, but it's been a long time - before MS-DRGs and MCCs.

I am running into the same thing, which is why I wanted to learn facility coding. Thanks for the link.

I found this training handbook that is free! I have bookmarked it for future reference. It explains MS-DRGs and POAs.

I saw a job posting for a local hospital in my area. They specifically mention MS-DRGs & POAs as an area of knowledge that they are looking for.

www.hcmarketplace.com/supplemental/6201_browse.pdf

I will also look on the AHIMA website and see what I can find.

RRK in Granbury, Texas said: I found this training handbook that is free! I have bookmarked it for future reference. It explains MS-DRGs and POAs.

I saw a job posting for a local hospital in my area. They specifically mention MS-DRGs & POAs as an area of knowledge that they are looking for.

www.hcmarketplace.com/supplemental/6201_browse.pdf

I will also look on the AHIMA website and see what I can find.

I know the medicare website is supposed to have a break down of DRGs, but there is so much information on their site that I have had trouble finding what I need.

I did end up buying the Faye Brown ICD 9 book, and it has been helpful so far.

I guess employers now want "well rounded" coders, but I think its dumb that since I only know outpatient, that I am so limited in my job search

I did find this:

health.utah.gov/opha/IBIShelp/codes/DRGCode.htm

finally, an actual list of the codes and corresponding description

That looks like a great reference also!

I found this book on the AHIMA website. It is kind of pricey, but there is a discount for AHIMA members.

www.ahimastore.org/ProductDetailBooks.aspx?ProductID=12504

I will keep looking for more.

Here is another book that teaches inpatient coding from the AHIMA website:

www.ahimastore.org/ProductDetailBooks.aspx?ProductID=14296

I am just starting a medical coding program and i am trying to figure out which coding manual is best-the "Faye Brown's one, or the "Step by Step Coding book by Carol Buck. I wish there had a site where i could compare the two.

ad in Vancouver, Washington said: I am just starting a medical coding program and i am trying to figure out which coding manual is best-the "Faye Brown's one, or the "Step by Step Coding book by Carol Buck. I wish there had a site where i could compare the two.

I have both and I like Faye Brown the best. I feel it explains better. However, Faye Brown focuses on using the ICD-9 codes while Carol Buck focuses on CPT, so which book depends on what type of coding you're learning; inpatient or outpatient.

Viv in Monroe, North Carolina said: I have both and I like Faye Brown the best. I feel it explains better. However, Faye Brown focuses on using the ICD-9 codes while Carol Buck focuses on CPT, so which book depends on what type of coding you're learning; inpatient or outpatient.

The cpt book we will use is the AMA one. The book by Buck is the Step by Step medical coding one. Our ICD 9 book is the one by Ingenix-ICD-9-CM Expert for Hospitals and payers2012, Vols 1,2,3. So is the Step by Step by Buck just the rules to learn for outpatient coding, or for both inpt and outpatient coding?

Step by Step focuses on outpatient coding. There's a short chapter at the end of the book on inpatient coding, but if you really want to learn inpatient you should get the Faye Brown. Faye brown covers inpatient and outpatient ICD-9 coding.

Let me be a bit more clear. This was something that confused me when I was first learning about coding, too. For inpatient coding you use the ICD-9 manual for both the diagnosis and procedure codes. For outpatient coding you use the ICD-9 manual for diagnosis codes and the CPT manual for procedure codes.

Since Faye Brown covers the entire ICD-9 manual, by studying it you learn inpatient procedure and diganosis coding in addition to outpatient diagnosis coding.

Carol Buck explains outpatient procedure and diagnosis coding. It covers outpatient procedure coding in depth, something Faye Brown does not do. There a chapter on inpatient coding at the end of the book, but it's only an intro to inpatient coding, not enough to really learn it.

So if you only want to learn outpatient coding, stick with Step by Step. If you want to do inpatient, then Faye Brown is best. If you want to learn both, I'd buy both. I hope I didn't make that too confusing.

As far as ICD-9-CM, which book gives you all you should know about ICD-9-CM coding (like for instance all of the rules and stuff)? My class will be using the "Ingenix". Is the "Ingenix" book in our program the book that is ONLY for looking up codes? Or is it the rules you learn for Inpt coding? I mean is it similar to the CPT books where you look up code and so on? In your email you said that for inpt coding you use the ICD-9-CM manual. You are not talking about the ICD-9-CM book where you look up and find the right codes are you? i think i am getting confused as to which book is the "teaching" book, and which is the book that you look up codes (whether inpt or outpt.

I think i am confused on which book(s) have the guidelines for inpt coding, and which book has the guidelines for CPT coding. Why is my coding program not using both "stepbystep" and the Faye Brown manual? I ask this cause if a person only wants to be a inpt coder, he/she would not have a great background if the program only using the Carol Buck step by step.

How confusing this is and it is not your fault. Ok so our Carol Buck step by step is the manual for "guidelines" for outpt and inpt coding? The Faye Brown is the manual for the guidelines for inpt and a little out patient coding?

Also why didn't coding program i am in have us to use both the Faye Brown manual and the Carol Buck manual?

ad in Vancouver, Washington said:

I realize your questions weren't directed at me, but I am going to step in. ICD 9 Volumes 1 and 2 are diagnosis codes that are used in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. ICD 9 Volume 3 are the procedure codes that are used ONLY in the inpatient setting when coding for the facility.

In the front of the ICD 9 code book (the book you use to look up codes) are the coding guidelines. However, these can be a little difficult to understand, so this is where the Faye Brown ICD 9 Handbook is so helpful, as she breaks down and explains the guidelines in an easy to understand way.

The CPT book are procedure codes that are used ONLY in the outpatient setting. Their guidelines are usually at the beginning of each section.

I would imagine that your coding program is only teaching outpatient coding (very few coding programs teach inpatient coding) and that is why they are having you only buy the step by step book.

Inpatient coding is considered "advanced" coding and you can usually only only experienced coders are hired for inpatient coding as it is more difficult. I have been coding for 5 years and have only recently been able to transition to inpatient.

But to sum up, the step by step book focuses mostly on outpatient and the ICD 9 Handbook focuses mostly on inpatient.

God bless you!!

These are our books:
1. Ingenix 2012 ICD-9-CM for Hospitals and Payers - Vol 1, 2, &3 (Expert);
2. Complete Coverage of ICD-10-CM 2012 Step-By-Step Medical Coding by Carol Buck.
3. 2012 AMA CPT Professional Edition.
4. 2012 HCPCS Level II by Carol Buck.

So the Ingenix is the one that has the ICD coding guidelines in the front for vol1,2 and 3 right?
As far as the outpatient coding guidelines what book breaks down and explains the guidelines for outpt coding-in Carol Buck book?

I don't want to start out with inpt coding after i finish school. I heard that working in the hospital is very hard and fast pace. I think for a new coder that could be very stressful.. I would like to work for a specialist (2).

I thought about working at an insurance company, but i don't know what a coder does at an insurance company.

I guess getting the Faye Brown is a great idea even though i don't want to work in a hospital. It will help me to learn inpt coding easier.
I am glad you stepped in (both of you). Valentine is a rare name, but very pretty. Please let me know if i grasped you helpful explanation.

Have a blessed New Year.

ad in Vancouver, Washington said: God bless you!!

These are our books:
1. Ingenix 2012 ICD-9-CM for Hospitals and Payers - Vol 1, 2, &3 (Expert);
2. Complete Coverage of ICD-10-CM 2012 Step-By-Step Medical Coding by Carol Buck.
3. 2012 AMA CPT Professional Edition.
4. 2012 HCPCS Level II by Carol Buck.

So the Ingenix is the one that has the ICD coding guidelines in the front for vol1,2 and 3 right?
As far as the outpatient coding guidelines what book breaks down and explains the guidelines for outpt coding-in Carol Buck book?

I don't want to start out with inpt coding after i finish school. I heard that working in the hospital is very hard and fast pace. I think for a new coder that could be very stressful.. I would like to work for a specialist (2).

I thought about working at an insurance company, but i don't know what a coder does at an insurance company.

I guess getting the Faye Brown is a great idea even though i don't want to work in a hospital. It will help me to learn inpt coding easier.
I am glad you stepped in (both of you). Valentine is a rare name, but very pretty. Please let me know if i grasped you helpful explanation.

Have a blessed New Year.

yep, you got it!

Thanks! valentine isn't my real name, but I love it. Its from Enders Game and holds a lot of meaning to me, so I am glad you like it.

Good Luck with your program!

ad in Vancouver, Washington said: God bless you!!

These are our books:
1. Ingenix 2012 ICD-9-CM for Hospitals and Payers - Vol 1, 2, &3 (Expert);
2. Complete Coverage of ICD-10-CM 2012 Step-By-Step Medical Coding by Carol Buck.
3. 2012 AMA CPT Professional Edition.
4. 2012 HCPCS Level II by Carol Buck.

So the Ingenix is the one that has the ICD coding guidelines in the front for vol1,2 and 3 right?
As far as the outpatient coding guidelines what book breaks down and explains the guidelines for outpt coding-in Carol Buck book?

I don't want to start out with inpt coding after i finish school. I heard that working in the hospital is very hard and fast pace. I think for a new coder that could be very stressful.. I would like to work for a specialist (2).

I thought about working at an insurance company, but i don't know what a coder does at an insurance company.

I guess getting the Faye Brown is a great idea even though i don't want to work in a hospital. It will help me to learn inpt coding easier.
I am glad you stepped in (both of you). Valentine is a rare name, but very pretty. Please let me know if i grasped you helpful explanation.

Have a blessed New Year.

Ditto what Valentine says. You look like you have it. I hope you enjoy your classes.

Thank You very much!