Due to the passing of the SGR law delaying ICD-10 implementation until Oct 1, 2015, AHIMA has revised it’s testing criteria and dates. AAPC has not issued any statements regarding changes is certification requirement as of yet. Below is the information from AHIMA FAQ’s web page.
ICD-10 Exam Delay FAQs (effective April 1, 2014)
On March 31, 2014 the Senate voted to approve a bill that will delay the implementation of ICD-10-CM/PCS by at least one year. Assuming the ICD-10 implementation date is delayed to October 1, 2015, CCHIIM will delay the implementation launch date of ICD-10 exams.
Q: How does the ICD-10 exam launch delay affect me?
A: The tentative ICD-10 exam launch dates are as follows:
- CCA – April 1, 2015
- CCS-P – April 14, 2015
- RHIA – April 21, 2015
- RHIT – April 28, 2015
Q: When is the last date that I can test with the ICD-9 version?
A: Please see the schedule below for the last date the exams will be available in ICD-9:
CCA – March 31, 2015
CCS-P – April 13, 2015
RHIA – April 20, 2015
RHIT – April 27, 2015
No exceptions will be made.
Q: Will the AHIMA exams be available under the ICD-9 versions after the launch of ICD-10?
A: No, once the ICD-10 exams are launched the ICD-9 version will be unavailable.
Q: Can I be guaranteed to test under the ICD-9 version?
A: No, due to the number of candidates that take the AHIMA exams we cannot guarantee seat availability for any version of our exams. It is recommended to apply and schedule your exam as soon as possible.
Q: What codebooks are required for the ICD-10 coding exams?
A: If you are taking one of the coding exams please refer to the list of allowable codebooks available in the certification section of the website and click on the specific exam web page. Please be sure to review the list labeled ICD-10 Allowable Codebooks. Candidates that do not bring the correct books to the testing center will forfeit their fees and be required to pay for their exam again.
Q: If I cannot test under the ICD-9 version can I request a refund?
A: Yes, you can request a refund under the policy provided on the Certification web page.
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Originally published on: AHIMA.org
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