Get To Know AAPC
Posted by Julia Foster on August 18, 2015 in Blog, NewsGet To Know AAPC
AAPC, which stands for American Academy of Professional Coders, is a “training and credentialing organization for the business side of healthcare,” according to www. aapc.com. AAPC was created in 1988 in the effort to raise the standards of medical coding by offering medical coding professionals and medical coding students with trainings, certifications, continuing education and support, networking opportunities and career choices. AAPC has grew beyond just outpatient coding and currently offers training and credentials in documentation and coding audits, inpatient hospital/facility coding, regulatory compliance and physician practice management.
AAPC offers numerous different certifications including the following: Professional Service Coding (CPC), Hospital Inpatient Coding (CIC), Hospital Outpatient Coding (COC), Payer Perspective Coding (CPC-P), Professional Billing (CPB), Medical Audition (CPMA), Medical Compliance (CPMA), Physician Practice Management (CPPM) and other specialty coding certificates. The services AAPC offers go beyond just certifications. AAPC offers trainings for all levels of medical coders, from pre-credential to post-credential needs. AAPC also offers an extensive amount of ongoing education services including local chapter meetings, workshops, online trainings, newsletters, and conferences.
AAPC relies on several different boards (National Advisory Board, Chapter Associations Board, Physicians Advisory Board and Legal Advisory Board) to keep the organization running smoothly. The National Advisory Board consists of industry professionals who offer AAPC leaders insight into coding issues, trends and needs. This board also advocates for the mission of AAPC and the coding profession. The Chapter Advisory Board is a non-profit association that governs AAPC local chapters. According to aapc.com, “The Board provides policy, rules, regulations, direction, and advice to the AAPC local chapters and is also charged with ensuring that the local chapters function in accordance with the mission of the AAPC.” This board is also responsible for awarding the hardship scholarship fund, which is a scholarship that provides financial assistant to AAPC members who may need assistance with their credentials and membership. The Physician Advisory Board is a voluntary board who give a physician’s view of coding issues and trends. The final board AAPC relies on to function is the Legal Advisory Board. This board offers advisory to the AAPC National Office.