AHIMA Delivers Coding Expertise that Maximizes Your Career - Membership

As a coding professional, are you looking for an association that knows what it takes to make you even more of an expert in your field? Are you seeking an organization that helps you translate your expertise to effective ways to meet your career goals?

America's premier health information management (HIM) association, AHIMA, boasts a 75-year history of quality leadership in the coding industry. In fact, AHIMA's respected credentials, educational products, advocacy, and networking potential have given the association the distinction of setting the standard in medical coding.

Membership in AHIMA represents not only a smart career investment, but more importantly, an alignment with a not-for-profit organization that always puts you first.

AHIMA, over 51,000 members strong, exists to help you, the coding professional, reach new heights in excellence. AHIMA's local coding meetings, online training, publications, audio seminars and much, much more deliver optimal educational training-so you're prepared to meet today's healthcare challenges head-on. Why don't you take an important step in your career growth by joining AHIMA--the Association that works for you.

Communities of Practice: Your Virtual Connection to More than 50,000 HIM Professionals

Joining AHIMA is Only a Click Away

Want to know more? Consider AHIMA's other membership benefits, which include discounts on coding training or read some important frequently asked questions by coding professionals.

AHIMA fosters the professional development of its members through education, certification, and lifelong learning. Make sure you also take a look at the areas of our Web site that address coding online training, coding textbooks, coding certification, Coding Roundtables-local coding meetings given by AHIMA's component state associations-coding audio seminars, and coding face-to-face meetings. AHIMA is committed to promoting quality health information for the benefit of the public, healthcare consumers and providers, and other users of clinical data.

We Have Hundreds of Testimonials from Valued members; Here Are Just a Few:

"When I'm looking for help in training other coders or to further my own knowledge, I turn to AHIMA. I feel very confident recommending their reference materials to my client hospitals for their own use and education. AHIMA's publications offer a valuable way to build personal and business libraries."

Ann Marie Waters, RHIT, CCS
Independent contract coder, trainer and coding reviewer
Mount Vernon, WA

"I can't begin to tell you what a benefit AHIMA coding materials have been for study groups and staff education. Whenever faced with a new challenge, I refer first to my AHIMA resources."

Sue LaBonte, RHIA, RHIT
Health Information Services Manager
John Knox Village Care Center, Lee's Summit, MO

"My most recent purchases have been the audio seminars for my coding staff. They have been very worthwhile for coding staff to hear a nationally recognized speaker on various coding issues. When they can listen to a nationally broadcast conference, they feel as if they are keeping up with the times and not isolated in our small rural hospital."

Betty Lanzrath, RHIA
Director, Health Information Management
Newton Medical Center, Newton KS

"In Communities of Practice, I have learned a lot about where to reference a coding guideline and I am able to ask others with more experience their opinion on a subject."

Sheila Janota, RHIT
RML Specialty Hospital, Hinsdale, IL

"What I like best about AHIMA is the strong professional support provided at the national level, and the practice briefs. I have been very impressed by the quality of all products, including the annual convention, the Web site, and the Journal. I also appreciate the online information and access to professional contacts. AHIMA is clearly a very well-run and well-supported professional organization, providing valuable tools for the health information professional."

Bob Hastings
Electronic Services Team Leader, Office of Disability Programs
Social Security Administration, Baltimore, MD

"I am going to take this opportunity to let you know how pleased I am with AHIMA. I get a lot of benefit from the AHIMA Web site. Last year, I made it a goal to read articles in the AHIMA Journal and answer the quizzes for CE hours. I try to read the "Coding Notes" article each month and answer the quiz. I also love the Communities of Practice. I am an early riser and many mornings, you will find me online reading what other professionals are saying about different things. I want all of you to know that I appreciate the services AHIMA is offering to members."

Delores J. McDonald, RHIA, CCS
Consultant
Burleson, TX

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. I have worked as a clinical coding professional for many years. Why should I join AHIMA?

A. As the leading not-for-profit Association representing HIM professionals for 75 years, AHIMA provides industry-recognized certification, education, training, and leadership for our 51,000 members across the country.

We offer coding professionals benefits and resources that no other professional organization can match. With our Web-based Communities of Practice and the FORE Library: HIM Body of Knowledge available to provide professional support with just a click of the mouse, members are always connected to the hottest issues, the most up-to-date information, and peers across the nation.

As a member-driven organization, AHIMA fosters the professional development of coding professionals through advocacy, education, certification, and lifelong learning opportunities. Click here for details on membership.

Q. Do I have to hold an AHIMA credential to be a member of AHIMA?

A. AHIMA offers several membership options including student, active and associate memberships. The associate membership is designed for individuals with an interest in clinical coding or in other HIM areas but are not AHIMA certified. Our members come from a wide spectrum of healthcare settings and professional training backgrounds. Click here for more details on membership benefits.

Q: Why should I become AHIMA certified as a Coding Specialist or Coding Associate?

A. Coding certification is fast becoming an industry requirement and AHIMA's certifications are widely recognized as the industry standard. AHIMA administers three coding examinations to measure individuals' coding competencies. The examinations are based on job analysis and administered by a professional testing agency.

The Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) and Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P) exams assess mastery level proficiency in clinical coding. If you have experience in coding inpatient records or coding the hospital portion of ambulatory surgery and emergency room care, you should consider obtaining the CCS certification. If you perform coding in a doctor's office, clinic, or similar setting, you should consider obtaining the CCS-P certification to validate your skills in professional service coding.

The Certified Coding Associate (CCA) is an entry-level coding credential. New coders who earn the CCA immediately demonstrate their competency in the field, even without job experience. Earning a CCA demonstrates a sound knowledge base of coding conventions and principles. The CCA exam is a recommended career step for those who complete a coding certificate program or other training, but lack significant job experience. Click here for more details on AHIMA's coding certifications.

Q. Can AHIMA provide maintenance for other association's credentials?

A. While AHIMA cannot provide maintenance for other association's credentials, we do provide continuing education credits that are recognized by other professional associations. You will need to check with your organization to see if they will accept our Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

Q. Does AHIMA provide entry level coding training?

A. AHIMA administers an approval process for coding certificate programs that assures an appropriate curriculum is followed to ensure excellence in education. We also provide accreditation for colleges providing academic programs in HIM, which currently includes clinical coding. Our Association provides coding professionals with numerous opportunities for professional growth and academic achievement. Examples include E-learning, audio seminars, printed coding publications, and face-to-face workshops and meetings.

You could tap into the many opportunities AHIMA offers to improve your understanding of issues critical to your career success. Choose from training representing a variety of mediums and range of knowledge levels: audio seminars, web-based training, face-to-face Institutes, Privacy and Security meetings, coding seminars, CE quizzes and Convention & Exhibits.

Q. Does AHIMA have local chapters I can join?

A. Yes. AHIMA offers its members professional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With an AHIMA membership and the use of our Internet-based Communities of Practice, a growing professional network is available when you need it. CoP enables members to join virtual meetings with colleagues without leaving their homes or offices and network with others in similar work settings.

AHIMA supports a system of component organizations in every state including Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. Component State Associations (CSAs) provide their members with local access to professional education, networking, and representation. CSAs also serve as an important forum for communication of national issues and keeping members informed of regional affairs that affect HIM. More information about your local CSA and the programs they offer can be found here.

Also, at the local level are AHIMA's Coding Roundtables. Our Coding Roundtable network provides a rich resource for data collection and advocacy with regulatory agencies. Significant issues that impact coders are taken up by the Coding Policy and Strategy Committee and presented to our contacts in the government and healthcare industry to affect necessary changes in code assignment or guidelines. A partial listing of local meetings and contact information for the AHIMA Coding Roundtable Coordinator in your area can be found here.

Q. What resources does AHIMA offer coders?

A. AHIMA publishes an outstanding selection of coding materials tailored to specific healthcare settings. Over 30 audio seminars are produced yearly on the topics of coding, reimbursement, documentation and data quality and every issue of the Journal of AHIMA addresses at least two coding-related topics.

Articles on coding problems, disease processes, regulatory and legislative issues, reviews of coding products, and other information useful to the coding professional are located in the Community Resources of the Coding CoP and continue as a member benefit. Additionally AHIMA's the FORE Library: HIM Body of Knowledge is an online library that houses the entire breadth of HIM knowledge and places it right at members' fingertips.

AHIMA offers CEUs monthly through the CodeWrite community news, an electronic newsletter. The Association also has an online Coding Assessment and Training Solutions Program. The program provides the opportunity for organizations and coders alike to assess coding skills and knowledge and keep abreast of the latest coding practices and policies.

Q. How does AHIMA provide industry leadership for issues important to coders?

A. AHIMA leads the industry in the area of coding across the country. We continue to play a significant role in developing, maintaining and implementing clinical code sets nationally. AHIMA shares its expertise at important coding meetings, including the Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM Editorial Advisory Board and the CPT Editorial Panel.

AHIMA is one of the four Cooperating Parties (along with the American Hospital Association, National Center for Health Statistics, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) that are charged with the maintenance of the ICD-9-CM classification system and its eventual replacement system.

In addition, AHIMA actively works to build alliances at both the state and national level to coordinate regulatory and legislative efforts. AHIMA has a representative on the APC Advisory panel and is currently serving on the expert panel requested by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop codes and/or guidelines for visit reporting of hospital outpatient services.

Click here to explore recent activities and updates from our Policy and Government Relations department on coding issues.

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