Medical Coding & Billing: How to Get the CPB and CPPM

In medical coding and billing, there are so many acronyms that it can be hard to keep up sometimes. Some particular acronyms you should definitely familiar with, however, are the CPB, CPC and CPPM. While the three-day CPC course focuses strongly on medical coding, the CPB places major emphasis on the billing side of the profession.

(Side note: You must be CPC certified prior to getting the CPB, or any other course Medical Coding Academy offers. You would never do billing without medical coding knowledge, after all.)

Why Get the CPB and CPPM?

The truth is, one-third of received claims in the medical coding industry are are rejected or denied daily. Even worse, 50 percent of the claims that are rejected or denied are never even resubmitted. That is a problem that needs to be turned around, and it can be corrected if more coders take the exams to becoming certified for both the CPC and CPB. These two certifications go hand in hand — you’ll be a well-rounded professional when you have both the CPC and CPB.

As for the CPPM, this credential is usually for the person who runs the show — the backbone of the company, the go-to person who oversees production flow in all aspects of the company and the manager who does training and mentoring. Achieving this credential looks amazing on your resume, to say the least. It screams “status” and “credibility,” even if you’re just applying for a coding and billing position.

Planning Your CPB/CPPM Courses and Exams

The good thing about the courses for these credentials is that you can take them in consecutive weekends at MCA. Want to take the CPC one weekend, then the CPB the next? You can do that. These classes typically tend to be smaller classes, so you’ll be getting extra attention while jumping all over your alphabet soup to get it done.

After you’ve attended the courses, you need to make sure that you plan your exams strategically. You may sit for exams as early as one week after taking a course, or you can take two courses, then scheduled two exams. Either way, you need to make sure you don’t let it go too long between when you take your last course and when you take your exam.

Which to Take First: The CPB or CPPM?

If your goal is to do both courses and you’re unsure about which credential to pursue first after your CPC, let me simplify it for you with the following suggestions:

• If your goal is to become a well-rounded coder and biller, go for the CPB first
• If your goal is to become a manager, go for the CPPM

After you’re done, you’ll receive a beautiful certificate of completion and be well on your way toward a successful careering in medical coding, medical billing or medical coding and billing management. But it all starts with a CPC course, so make sure you sign up for one today.