By: Pat Kroken, FACMPE, CRA, FRBMA
RCCB Was Born
Twenty years ago, the Radiology Coding Certification Board (RCCB) was launched with the goal of filling a gap for coding professionals.
While there were several organizations offering coder certification, none of the existing entities included more than a few radiology-focused questions on their certification exams.
Due to the complexity of radiology coding, Walt Blackham, RCC, RCCIR suggested the Radiology Business Management Association develop an independent, radiology-specific coding certification and the organization accepted the challenge.
The RCCB website explains, “Appropriate psychometric procedures were employed to define the body of knowledge for radiology coders and determine the content areas appropriate for the examinations. These procedures used survey methodologies for identifying the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) used by radiology coders in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. A representative panel of coding experts reviewed the results of the survey and identified the body of knowledge for radiology coding based on this data, which included ethics, compliance, medical terminology, anatomy, CPT® and ICD-10.”
RCCB Exam
In 2000 the RCCB emerged as an independent organization and its programs are overseen by a qualified accreditation body. An RCCB exam committee continues to meet monthly to review and validate test questions, identifying those to be retired and adding questions related to new codes or regulations.The RCCB website states “We offer the only radiology-specific certification program. Attaining status as a Radiology Certified Coder (RCC) or a Radiology Certified Coder in Interventional Radiology (RCCIR) demonstrates a commitment to professional development and attainment of an elite status within the industry.
It requires a comprehensive knowledge of medical terminology, procedure coding, regulations and professional ethics.” Maintaining RCC or RCCIR status involves a program of continuing education to ensure skills and knowledge have kept pace with changes in codes and regulations.
MSN and RCCB
MSN Healthcare Solutions employees have been involved in the RCCB since inception. “We feel coder certification is important to MSN clients both to ensure we correctly bill for all work done by client physicians but to comply with regulations as well,” explains Ms. Renee Engle, RCC, RCCIR, FRBMA.
Coding education is emphasized not only for coding staff but for physicians too and MSN develops and maintains an extensive library of coding education materials.
“e feel coder certification is important to MSN clients both to ensure we correctly bill for all work done by client physicians but to comply with regulations as wellMSN develops and maintains an extensive library of coding education mater
Prior to joining MSN Healthcare Solutions as Director of Education and Corporate Communications, Pat Kroken had nearly 30 years of experience in radiology management as both a practice manager and consultant to radiology groups, billing companies, software vendors and hospital radiology departments.
Pat has had more than 200 articles published, is a regular contributor to the Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA) Bulletin and a frequent speaker on practice management topics. She served two terms as President of the RBMA, is Editorial Advisor for the national RBMA publication, The Bulletin, and represented the “business side of radiology” as RBMA Liaison to the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Associated Sciences Consortium for 7 years.
