New Coding Auditor Certification Program Launched

Washington, D.C., Jan. 30, 2018 -- The Healthcare Financial Management Association introduced a new online healthcare certification designed to validate and acknowledge the professional expertise of inpatient coding auditor professionals. Objectives of the Certified Inpatient Coding Auditor (CICA) certification include validating skills specific to auditing in the inpatient setting, providing an industry credential for inpatient auditing expertise, and ensuring employers have an industry standard to use when making hiring decisions. 

“In light of changing payment models and increases in regulatory audits and reporting requirements, ensuring coding accuracy is more important than ever,” said HFMA President and CEO Joseph J. Fifer, FHFMA, CPA. “This certification enables both coders and hiring organizations to gain confidence in their coding oversight capabilities.”

CICA is designed for experienced coding professionals with at least three years of acute care inpatient coding experience, who have a working knowledge of Diagnosis-Related Group assignment and case mix index. It is also appropriate for coders who aspire to become certified coding auditors and have a working knowledge of quality initiatives, Medicare Administrative Contractors, Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs), and the importance of accurate clinical documentation. Coders who aspire to defend coding accuracy in addressing denials from RAC auditors will also find CICA certification helpful.

The CICA is earned completely online and is available to all coders, regardless of HFMA membership status. A certificate suitable for framing may be downloaded upon successful completion of the CICA assessment. Recertification is required every two years. For more information, visit hfma.org/cica

About HFMA  
With more than 38,000 members, the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) is the nation's premier membership organization for healthcare finance leaders. HFMA builds and supports coalitions with other healthcare associations and industry groups to achieve consensus on solutions for the challenges the U.S. healthcare system faces today. Working with a broad cross-section of stakeholders, HFMA identifies gaps throughout the healthcare delivery system and bridges them through the establishment and sharing of knowledge and best practices. The Association helps healthcare stakeholders achieve optimal results by creating and providing education, analysis, and practical tools and solutions. Its mission is to lead the financial management of health care.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/359b5e8b-3bea-48c8-a6fe-d1c7201d4ec1

Karen Thomas
Healthcare Financial Management Association
708-492-3377
[email protected]