AAHAM Certification Programs
Presented By:
Kimberly Scribner, CRCE-I & CAC
Amy Weber, CRCP-I & CPC
Karen Moore, CRCE-I
Annual Institute September 15, 2015
Certifications
AAHAM certification options include:
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Certified Revenue Cycle Executive (CRCE)
Certified Revenue Cycle Professional (CRCP)
Certified Revenue Integrity Professional (CRIP)
Certified Revenue Cycle Specialist (CRCS)
Certified Compliance Technician (CCT)
Certifications
CRCE
◦ Senior and Executive Leaders
 CRCP
◦ Supervisors and Managers
 CRCS
◦ Revenue Cycle Team Members
 CCT
◦ Compliance Competency
 CRIP
◦ Charge Master Management
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Exam Information
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All exams held 4 times per year
◦ February, May, August, November
All exams are taken on line- require
proctor
 Chapter coordinates exam
dates/proctors
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Certification CRCE I/P
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Eligibility- Membership in AAHAM, Minimum 4 years experience in
healthcare related field or 2 year Associate degree
Cost- $299 Full Exam $50 per Retake Section
8 Hour On-Line Exam
4 Sections
◦ Patient Access/Front Desk, Billing, Credit Collections, Revenue
Cycle Management
◦ Multiple Choice, T/F, F/B, Short Answer, Essay, Quantitative
Questions
Grading-Notification within 90 days- 70% on all sections
Must pass 2 sections to qualify for re-take within 18 months of
initial exam date
Maintaining Certification: National Member in good standing & 40
CEUs w/in 2 years of certification- 20 obtained from AAHAM
Related Educational Programs
Certification CRCP I/P
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Eligibility- Membership in AAHAM, Minimum 2 years
experience in healthcare related field or 2 year Associate
degree
Cost- $199 Full Exam $50 per Retake Section
4 Hour On-Line Exam
4 Sections
◦ Patient Access/Front Desk , Billing, Credit Collections,
Revenue Cycle Management
◦ Multiple Choice, True/False
Grading-Immediate Results-70% All Sections
Must pass 2 sections to qualify for re-take within 12 months
of initial exam date
Maintaining Certification: National Member in good standing
& 30 CEUs w/in 2 years of certification- 15 obtained from
AAHAM Related Educational Programs
Certification CRCS I/P
Eligibility- Membership in AAHAM encouraged, 1 Year
Employment in Revenue Cycle
 Cost- $100 Full Exam $50 per Retake Section
 2 Hour On-Line Exam
 3 Sections
◦ Patient Access/Front Desk , Billing, Credit Collections,
◦ Multiple Choice, Grading-Immediate Results-70% All
Sections
 Must pass 2 sections to qualify for re-take within 12
months of initial exam date
 Maintaining Certification: Option 1- Retake and pass
exam every 3 years. Option 2- National Member in
good standing & 30 CEUs w/in 2 years of certification15 obtained from AAHAM Related Educational
Programs
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Certification CCT
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Eligibility-Membership in AAHAM encouraged, 1 Year
Compliance Experience
Cost- $100
90 Minute On-Line Exam
4 Areas of Focus-Multiple Choice
◦ 7 Elements of Compliance Plan
◦ Agencies that oversee healthcare compliance
◦ Knowledge of the OIG Recommendations
◦ Non-Compliance Penalties
Results- Immediate
70% If 70% not achieved. Must retake entire exam
Maintaining Certification - Must be re-taken every 3
years
Certification CRIP
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Eligibility- National AAHAM Member
Cost- $199 Retakes $50 per section
4 Hour On-Line Exam
4 Areas of Focus-Multiple Choice True/False
◦ Overall Review of Charge Capture
◦ Ancillary Services
◦ Surgical Services Procedures
◦ Recurring Outpatients and Clinical Services
Results- Immediate
70% Must Pass 2 of the 4 sections to be eligible to retake the remaining sections w/in 12 Months.
Maintaining Certification -Maintaining Certification: National
Member in good standing & 30 CEUs w/in 2 years of certification15 obtained from AAHAM Related Educational Programs
Resources
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www.mdaaham.com
◦ Link to National Website
◦ Schedule for Webinars
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www.aaham.org
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Registration
FAQ’s
Costs
Study Resources
Eligibility
Recertification
Certification Benefits
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Individual
◦ Increased Earnings Potential
◦ Competitive Advantage
◦ Recognition-Opportunities for Growth
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Employer
◦ Increased Competency of Staff
◦ Promote Ongoing Training/Education
◦ Develop Career Ladders
THE
CRCE
EXAM
FOUR SECTIONS
ACCESS
BILLING
CREDIT AND
COLLECTIONS
A/R
MANAGEMENT
EACH SECTION FORMAT
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True/False…………2 points each
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Multiple Choice…...5 points each
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Short Answer……...15 points each
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Essay……………….20 points each
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Quantitative………..15 points each (but may have several answers)
Each section has a 2-hour maximum completion time; the full exam has an eight hour time limit.
You must score a minimum of 70% per section to become certified.
You can `bank’ two or three sections and re-take only those sections that you did not pass.
Preparing for the Exam
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The preparation for the CRCE exams can
be an overwhelming process. The
following slides will assist you in creating a
plan to make the most out of the time
you have dedicated to prepare.
Purchase the Study Materials
Ensure that you have a copy of the CRCE
Study Manual. They are available for
purchase online at www.aaham.org under
Certification -> CRCE.
 Purchase a Practice Exam. This is a great
tool when used in conjunction with a
study plan – it will help you to gauge the
effectiveness of your studying.
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Study Guide Loaner Program
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Maryland AAHAM is proud to be able to offer loaner study guides for the
upcoming CRCE, CRCP and CRCS exams for MD AAHAM members.
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The loaner program is for MD AAHAM members only.
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The study guides will be on loan to MD AAHAM for six (6) weeks. The
study guides are expensive to purchase, so this is a great opportunity to
utilize the study guide for free!
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The loaner program is on a first come, first serve basis so be sure to act
fast!
See the following link for a full description of the
program and forms:
http://www.mdaaham.com/crcecrcpcrcscertification/
Block Time on Your Calendar
Blocking time on your calendar puts
accountability on you and keeps your schedule
clear. Reading the study guide takes time and
digesting the material may require reading it
multiple times.
 Ensure that you block time for each section.
Many test takers find that they study least on
the area in which they are most comfortable.
The items you think you know best have the
highest likelihood to stump you!
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Keep Your Study Area Quiet
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Study time has the best results when
done in a quiet area. Distractions such as
family and work take away from the
effectiveness of your study session. If
there is no quiet place in the house,
consider visiting a local
library.
Use the Study Guide
It sounds simple, but take time to read through
the study guide.
 There are items in the guide that you may find
need to be explored further through your own
research. If you are researching on your own,
ensure that your sources are creditable.
 Highlight/Underline and Tag concepts in the
book (highlight/underline key concepts to
reference back to & tag/flag items that you need
to further study).
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Take Notes/Make Flash Cards
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Find out how you learn best and then follow these steps for
success:
◦ Auditory – Find a partner to quiz you, quiz yourself, or use a
software application
◦ Kinesthetic – Write notes as you study and take notes from
your highlighted study manual (writing notes can further your
absorption of the material).
◦ Visual – Make flash cards for each key concept
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Going through the concepts is important the final week before the
exam. Flashcards are an easy way to review all sections
Gather Support – Join a Study Group!
Identify a study buddy, join a study group or
form your own! The benefits of a study partner
or group is the psychological support and
accountability to keep you on track.
 If there are others in your organization,
considering making arrangements to meet up
with them after studying each section. It may
also be useful to find someone who has recently
taken the exam as they will have further insight
on key topics.
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Study Partners/Groups (continued)
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Check with your organization as many offer study
sessions (this can be a good way to connect with others
in our industry who have successfully taken the exam).
If you want to form your own study group, follow these
tips for success:
◦ The first thing that your group should have is a “study
plan” (this should include an outline of study topics).
◦ Next you will want to determine a study schedule
(more/less study time may be needed depending on
the topic and current exposure/lack of to the
information). A study schedule should take from six
to twelve weeks, depending on the group/individual
needs.
This will be on the Test!
Answering in Paragraph Form
Part of the test will require a response/responses in
“Paragraph Form”. Correct paragraph form includes: a
topic sentence, three “showing examples” and a
conclusion (no paragraph should be less than five
sentences).
 To be fully prepared, set aside time in your study
schedule to practice answering questions in correct
paragraph form.
 Brush up on your grammar and spelling to ensure that
your paragraphs are polished and professional (because
it counts)!
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Practicing Formulas
Exam is on online- practice the formulas
in Word.
 Harder than you think to “show your
work” on line.
 Even if the answer is incorrect – points
are awarded for showing your work
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Formatting Your Answers
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Make it easy on the Grader
◦ Label the sections of your answers to match
the questions.
◦ Key words in questions to determine format
of answers:
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List
Define
Discuss
Advantages-Disadvantages / Pros-Cons
◦ Number the items
Formatting Your Answers -Example
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Question:
◦ Define DME and list at least five items
considered DME
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Answer:
Definition:
Items
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Study Tips
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Make daily study a priority
Avoid cramming
Spend more time on your weak areas
Pick a time to study when you are most alert (research shows that
the morning and early evening are best)
Stick to the study schedule
Keep breaks short (3-5 minutes is adequate)
Study one topic at a time
The next day review what you learned the day before
Make outlines and map out what you have learned and develop
questions from your outline
Reading out loud helps reinforce the material
Tape record important items you want to remember (or have
difficulty remembering) and listen to them to and from work
Preparing for Test Day
Get a good nights sleep
 Eat a light, healthy breakfast
 During the test, take the time to read
each question carefully (especially
true/false and multiple choice)
 Take a deep breath, relax and do your
best!
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Exam Day Reminders
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The exam is written from the typical DRG perspective
(this is not a Maryland focused exam) - this information
will help you to better understand the material.
If a question asks you to list five items to an answer and
you know seven- be sure to list all seven. This increases
your chances of getting full credit (in case one of your
items are wrong).
Pay special attention to the questions and be sure to
provide all the information asked for to receive full
credit. Take note as well in case answers with no
information is required (don’t use extra time to provide
detailed information unless it is asked for).
If you do not know an answer in its entirety, answer as
much as you can to receive as much credit as possible.
Sample Questions-Formats
TRUE / FALSE
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The medical record department is the only hospital
department that has to worry about controlling record
confidentiality. T/F
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PHI Stands for Protected Health Information. T/F
Sample Questions-Formats
Multiple Choice
The Statue of Limitations is expiring. What can be done
to extend the statute?
A. Obtain a written “promise to pay”
B. Obtain a partial payment on the principle amount
C. Obtain a judgment
D. All of the above
Sample Questions-Formats
Multiple Choice
How many weeks of leave within a 12 month period are
employees entitled to under FMLA?
A.
B.
C.
D.
6 Weeks
25 Weeks
12 Weeks
18 Weeks
Sample Questions-Formats
Fill in the Blank
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Correspondence regarding collections must be retained
for 7 years.
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The Truth in Lending Act is also known as Regulation Z.
Sample Questions-Formats
Short Answer
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Define Cash Forecasting
◦ Cash Forecasting is the projection of cash flow for the future
based on historical trends and/or anticipated changes.
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Define late charges
◦ Charges posted after the bill has dropped
Sample Questions-Formats
Essay
Define DME and list five items that could be considered DME.
Definition:
Durable Medical Equipment is covered under part B as a medical
or other health service and is equipment that can withstand
repeated use, is primarily customarily used to serve a medical
purpose, generally is not useful to a person in the absence of an
illness or injury and is appropriate for use in a home.
Items
1.) Crutches
4.) Canes
2.) Hospital Bed
5.) Dialysis Equipment
3.) Oxygen Tanks
6.) Walker
Sample Questions-Formats
Quantitative
Based on the information below, which agency is MOST Effective:
Show all work and calculations.
Agency
Net Referred $ Collected
%Collected
Fee%
A
500,000
70,000
14%
25%
B
350,000
56,000
16%
30%
C
425,000
85,000
20%
35%
A Final Message
Contact Information
Kimberly Scribner, CRCE-I, CAC
Director Revenue Cycle & Financial
Clearance
Howard County General Hospital
State of MD Certified Application
Counselor
Phone (410) 740-7742
Fax (410) 720-8106
klinebe1@jhmi.edu
Contact Information
Amy Weber, CRCP-I & CPC
Director Non-Governmental Follow-up
and Appeals
MedStar Health
Phone (410)933-2791
amy.weber@medstar.net.
Contact Information
Karen Moore, CRCE-I
Senior IT Project Management Consultant
United Health Group-Optum 360
Phone (410) 754-3293 W
(410) 310-4409 C
kmoore@caremedic.com