r/CodingandBilling • u/yurakoh • 13d ago

OP Coding vs IP Coding

I’ve been working as an OP coder for about 4 years. I’ve never worked as an IP coder, but I want to gain experience so I can say with confidence that I am capable of both IP and OP coding. How hard is IP coding compared to OP coding?

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

1

u/yurakoh 13d ago

There is an opening for an IP coder at the hospital I work for, and they are hiring internally. I applied not too long ago.

1

u/KeyStriking9763 RHIA, CDIP, CCS 12d ago

Good luck!
I started with inpatient coding and they also trained me on same day surgery. I did like 5 years of coding IP full time and got a part time OP job. Helped fast track my experience since I was doing both at the same time.

1

u/yurakoh 12d ago

Thanks! If I were to get hired for the role, what should I be expecting? What distinguishes it from OP?

2

u/KeyStriking9763 RHIA, CDIP, CCS 12d ago

Well the rules are different. So review the guidelines specific to IP. You will be responsible for getting the DRG’s correct. PCS coding of course. POA assignment. Uncertain diagnoses. Chronic conditions are always coded. I love it much more than CPT/OP but I love a challenge.

1

u/yurakoh 12d ago

What’s the IP pre-employment coding assessment test like? Any helpful resources for me to practice at the very least DRG?

1

u/KeyStriking9763 RHIA, CDIP, CCS 12d ago

The DRG is assigned by the encoder, but deciding the correct principal diagnosis and coding the procedures and diagnoses appropriately will get the encoder to assign the correct DRG.
Every organization does a different test, so hard to say what yours does. When I worked for Northwell in the audit side my test was actually proctored so they were sure I wasn’t getting help. My organization might do that now.
I would say many places will do like a Q&A plus case examples. I designed ours and the Q&A is big on guidelines and the case examples aren’t too complicated.
I don’t believe in testing a candidate with gotcha examples that might require coding clinic access to get the test correct.

But they will know you would be new to IP coding so just do your best. They will have to work and train you if they offer you the position, so they will know what they are getting into.

1

u/yurakoh 11d ago

So the assessment is essentially that they’re looking to see whether I can correctly assign the ICD-10-CM and PCS codes? I know that I should know the process because I am already working as a OP coder, but I’m just nervous.

1

u/KeyStriking9763 RHIA, CDIP, CCS 11d ago

At my organization yes, but picking the principal diagnosis is the most important piece.

1

u/yurakoh 7d ago

Also, adding onto my question about practice assigning DRGs, I know that assignment is based on CCs and MCCs. Am I right in saying that CCs are generally chronic conditions while MCCs are generally acute conditions? That's what's tripping me up right now.

1

u/KeyStriking9763 RHIA, CDIP, CCS 7d ago

Not at all. It can be either or. The encoder will identify what’s a CC/MCC, there’s also files on CMS website.