New coding credential released for interventional radiologists

The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) has released a new credential, the Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder (CIRCC), to help navigate through coding change and decrease reimbursement and compliance errors.

The CIRCC signifies that an individual has achieved a high level of coding education and that his/her proficiency and accuracy in interventional radiology and cardiovascular coding and charging have been validated, according to the Salt Lake City-based AAPC.

“Current trends reveal increasing numbers of procedures are being performed in interventional radiology departments, cathlabs, hospitals and clinics, which have significantly elevated demand for vetted coding expertise in the interventional radiology and cardiovascular subspecialties," said Stephanie Jones, vice president of product management at AAPC.

The CIRCC exam tests aptitude in coding and charging for: diagnostic angiography; non-vascular interventions; percutaneous vascular interventions; diagnostic cardiac catheterization; basic coronary arterial interventions; ICD-9; anatomy; and terminology, AAPC said.

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