pmi-cmca-hero.jpg

Certified Medical Chart Auditor

Gain the skills to minimize risks associated with E/M claims in a medical office. Analyze and oversee medical record documentation, and safeguard medical outpatient reimbursement, and billing compliance in a medical office.
12 CEUs
12 HRs
875 
VIEW CLASS OPTIONS
   FREE ASSESSMENT 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates an increase in wages from 2021-2031 jobs for medical records specialists will increase 7% on average.

Why get certified?

The CMCA-E/M program is ideal for medical office professionals with career aspirations in coding and compliance in an outpatient healthcare setting.

  •  The certification lays the foundation for advancement into an auditing role.
  • The program empowers you to establish your own internal audit program.

  • With a certification, you show your employer that you’re an expert in the field.

Your Projected Salary*

$64.7k

Average salary in 2023 for a CMCA-E/M

*Source: BLS and AAPC. Job salary will vary on years of experience, location, practice, and number of certifications.

Course Summary

Learn how to establish and lead an internal E/M chart auditing program to protect practice revenue. The CMCA-E/M is a highly specialized certification course tailor-made for provider offices. The curriculum places emphasis on evaluation and management coding rules, medical necessity, and proper E/M code selection. 

The instructor addresses current coding and compliance guidelines, and explains self-audit procedures and steps to minimize E/M coding and documentation risks in a medical office. A physical manual is provided with step-by-step instruction, coding guidelines, reference documents from the OIG and CMS, auditing tools, and case studies, plus a workbook with audit tools for hands-on practice.

Participants will learn why auditing is essential to the viability and sustainability of your medical practice, and how to identify documentation deficiencies, as well as consequences and penalties for improper payments for E/M services. 

Learning Objectives

  • learn why auditing is essential to the viability and sustainability of your medical practice
  • understand how to identify E/M coding and documentation deficiencies and address grey areas
  • get guidelines, expert instruction, and tools needed for the E/M auditing process
  • gain new insight using documentation requirements for the three key components
  • review the latest documentation requirements
  • practice E/M auditing skills with hands-on evaluation and management case studies

The CMCA-E/M certification online course includes a training manual with reference documents from the OIG and CMS, coding guidelines, step-by-step auditing tools, and case studies, plus:

  • A series of self-paced, instructor-led training sessions
  • One-on-one instructor support available
  • Physical Manual
  • Exam review
  • Proctored open code books certification exam

The majority of the multiple-choice exam questions will apply directly to auditing eight E/M patient encounters from various specialties. The remaining questions cover documentation standards, key components of the encounter, and compliance.

PMI’s Exam Coordinator schedules the exam in a testing center near the candidate’s location. A score of 70% or better is required to earn the CMCA-E/M certification. If the candidate does not achieve a passing grade on the first attempt, he/she may re-test for an additional fee.

Course Outline:

  • Medical record compliance for the medical office
  • The role of a medical record auditor
  • Coding and documentation for E/M services
  • Review elements of medical decision making
  • Using time vs. MDM
  • Difference between medical decision making and medical necessity
  • Recordkeeping, clinical documentation improvement, and physician queries
  • Systematic instruction for conducting a formal chart audit
  • E/M coding risk areas and compliance
  • Regulatory actions and consequences for improper payments
  • Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) and improper payment rates
  • Guided E/M case studies with auditing tools

Course materials include a manual with coding guidelines, reference documents from the OIG and CMS, step-by-step auditing.

Jan_circle imageJan Hailey, MHL, CMC, CMCO, CMIS, CMOM, CMCA E/M

Jan has more than 30 years of experience in healthcare administration, coding, and billing roles. She is the former Director of Quality for Saint Joseph Physician Network. Jan's passion is helping medical office professionals excel in their careers. She also helped develop PMI's successful Workforce Initiatives program.

  • At least two years of outpatient coding experience; students with fewer than two years of outpatient coding experience should complete E/M Coding foundation courses prior to enrollment in the CMCA-E/M course
  • Baseline skills in E/M coding, regulatory guidelines, carrier medical claim policies, and compliance in a medical office
  • Knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology is beneficial.

    Visit pmiMD.com/onlinetraining to review options. 
pmi-cmc-support-graphic.jpg

“Medical chart auditing can increase office revenue by ensuring that you are billing accurately for the care given as well as ensures compliance within the healthcare field. With PMI offering the CMCA-E/M program, you will have a complete understanding of an E/M visit and how it all comes together.”

- Susan Chavez, CMC, CMIS, CMOM, CMCA-E/M, AI, CPC, Billing Compliance Consultant Health Texas Provider Network

New to medical coding and billing?

If you’re new to the field or need CEUs to renew your certification, our online training courses are perfect for you to learn (or refresh) charting and auditing fundamentals.

Mastering E/M Coding

3 CEUs
3 HRs
239
Register Now

E/M Chart Auditing for Physician Services

3 CEUs
3 HRs
239
Register Now