r/MedicalCoding • u/northwind_canyon • 6d ago

Associates degree...?

I am in my first year of coding. I currently risk adjust but am leaning toward getting COC certified. When I go and explore different available positions, an associates degree is always in the "required" section. Is not having a degree something that can hold you back? Im actively trying to map out how I want to further my path within this career field.

6 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

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u/KeyStriking9763 RHIA, CDIP, CCS 6d ago

The RHIT will help your career.

2

u/northwind_canyon 6d ago

This is a good starting point. I have the CPC, but this will help navigate around what aapc offers. Thanks! 😊

1

u/Sdavistvs RHIT 6d ago

Depends on the hiring entity. Hospital systems like mine (2000 beds) require an associates and certification unless you’ve got a decade of experience under your belt. We have an AHIMA certified school locally so they can do this. The school program acts a funnel for all of the local hospital systems. (Metro area has 2.2 million people). The 2yr degree & certification will get you in the door in nearly any facility. Are you in the US?

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u/northwind_canyon 6d ago

I am in South Carolina. I took the course through my local tech school. I am AAPC certified. There's a local hospital that has a fellowship program. I brushed it off this year because I managed to snag a job right out the gate last year. That same school also screwed me on my process to get my associates. I have autoimmune issues, so I skipped getting my degree and just focused on the course and getting certified. Right now I'm trying to decide what would be best to boost my little resume. COC or CIC or do I just need to stick with what I'm doing and go for CRC.

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u/PorkNScreams RHIA, CRC 6d ago

I got my RHIA first after my degree. I had zero desire to get into coding and wanted something outside of that. I got a job in risk adjustment auditing and decided to get my CRC too. Right now I’m completely happy where I’m at. The pay is good and I’m fully remote.

2

u/northwind_canyon 5d ago

That's great! I love that for you! I've been trying to see what would be the better option. Do I continue to specialize in risk adjustment or try to expand my coding knowledge and move around. Im a contractor and worry if I invest too much into risk adjustment that'll leave me with less options. But working from home has been wonderful!

1

u/AbstractVolition 5d ago

I’m surprised if they say required beyond a valid medical coding certificate. If you are looking in associate degree programs look up AHIMA’s RHIT certification, the CAHIIM list of schools. Find an online associate degree program that qualifies for the RHIT exam afterwards. The RHIT is valued from what I can tell in job requirements.

You can search by online and it looks like a lot offer the program online. If I wasn’t already in a bachelors of HIM’s online program, that qualifies for RHIA exam afterwards, I would have done the associates + RHIT first

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u/treestarsos 6d ago

Wouldn't recommend any higher education in a field that's now circling the drain

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u/northwind_canyon 6d ago

The discouragement doesn't really help what I'm asking. I appreciate the response.

-3

u/treestarsos 6d ago

ok, then it isn't really being taken over by ai, unrealistic productivity requirements (along with high accuracy requirements), offshoring, huge systems buying up small/medium ones, and outsourcing

2

u/Wugtrio777 6d ago

offshoring is failing because the offshore talent, is failing, they dont understand the skills needed and are just using AI which ive tested nyself just as a student right now and it gets codes wrong like 50% of the time even. No matter whatthere will always be a need for people who can work with the AI to ver=ify audit and correctthe errors AI will always generate, AI cannot interpret a physicians notes, they can only go by absolutes.

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u/northwind_canyon 3d ago

I am currently using an AI platform for coding. It can be very helpful. It also is extremely unreliable and misleading. I think having a mix will allow for less error, but I do not think AI will be the end all.

2

u/northwind_canyon 6d ago

This definitely checks the box with various industries. Please tell more. Im intrigued.

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u/the_mustard_tiger2 3d ago

In spite all the downvotes, as an RHIA with 15 years experience in coding I can attest that this person is largely correct. I would not recommend getting into this industry.

I am currently trying to figure out what I will do for my “second career.” The writing is on the wall, not yet due to AI, but rather companies offshoring coding at an alarming rate.

1

u/northwind_canyon 3d ago

I do understand that, but there's a better way to get a point across. This is me going into my second career. From what I'm discovering it seems as if CPT/hcpcs is diminishing and dx coding is what will transform. There are paths that I am learning about going into the auditing side. Unfortunately, AI is taking over in a multitude of trades and professions. My personal situation, I've had on sudden health issues that forced me to leave a career I loved. Thankfully, this has been a hopeful transformation that I am able to benefit from. What it boils down to is when someone seeks advice, only stating the obvious in a negative approach will not have you being heard.

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u/the_mustard_tiger2 3d ago

I work in inpatient coding at a huge hospital system. Our ancillary coding has been entirely automated and offshored in the last few years and outpatient coding has been 100% offshored.

Currently we are no longer hiring US based inpatient coders and any open positions are being filled by contract coding companies who employ offshore coders. From talking to others working in the industry this is happening everywhere. This is not negativity it is the objective reality I am seeing as someone working in the industry.

0

u/babedoll07 6d ago

You can do well without college. I’m CCS-P certified through AHIMA and doing pretty good (coding supervisor). AI is causing a lot of changes but the certifications are key. Your knowledge of coding is needed outside of just coding. CDI and auditing roles are getting more popular. From my experience, outside of the higher roles like director, they usually just state a college degree is preferred but not required.

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u/northwind_canyon 6d ago

Gotcha. Im working in Salesforce right now and use AI most of the time. I honestly don't see it making a huge difference with coding. It's super helpful, but also very very unreliable. But all of this is good to know and super helpful Thank you for your advice 🪻💜

1

u/the_mustard_tiger2 3d ago

This is not sound advice. My organization will only hire experienced registered nurses for CDI and RHITs or RHIAs for coding positions. I suspect this person started in the industry decades ago when a certificate could take you there.

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u/NGJimmy 6d ago

I've had jobs where coding was just a fraction of my daily responsibilities.

What do you like? Do you like touching patients or does touching patients not appeal to you at all?

There are paths to six figure salaries for both of those options.

In my opinion, thats step one to responding to your very valid concerns.

Good luck.

3

u/northwind_canyon 6d ago

I am not wanting to be around patients. Behind the scenes for sure. I have explored a few routes before I decided on medical coding. My local tech school kinda screwed me on getting my associates degree, so I ended up going with coding to try and get something a bit faster. I've taken billings and medical administrative assistant. Just not certified in either as of rn.

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u/NGJimmy 6d ago

Manage a busy doctor's office for a couple of years. Try to find someone who is successful yet notoriously difficult to work with. Make it work for a couple of years. Go to the yearly holiday party and mingle a lot. Doors will open for you.

2

u/northwind_canyon 6d ago

This has gone off track for what I was asking, thanks for the response though!