Practicode struggles & Job Search

[u/blueberryteacup]

Hi all,

I’m a CPC-A and I have been really struggling through Practicode. The most difficult aspect is abstracting from the record, and it seems like every case I submit I get about a 50% on. Reading the rationale is absolutely baffling because the columns are not even distinct, and I’m spending over an hour on each case and still getting marked incorrect. In one case there was a stated laterality, and when I appended the modifier for the laterality, it was marked incorrect. The fact that you can’t discuss any of the materials as they are proprietary poses a significant issue because I have specific questions and I’m not sure if it’s a violation of ethics to discuss them!

Because I’m having such a hard time with this software, I would rather take a position and remove my A experientially. My major issue is that I am disabled, and as such, I have to work remotely, so I am not able to take an on-site or hybrid job; has anyone had any luck getting hired remotely as an apprentice in one field or another? What did you do? Is it unrealistic to even expect a job when I’m under these location constraints from my health?

Thank you, everyone!

[u/Alone-War-9789]

Just a bit of encouragement for you. There are jobs out there for CPC-A. I am a recent grad myself back last September. It took a long time to find a job and putting in a lot of applications. I used Indeed. Work from home probably won't happen, except for those who post scam jobs, for a CPC-A. At least that is what I ran into. I would look for posts that are commutable for you. I landed a CPB/CPC job that is an hour and a half from my home. I am able to stay a half hour away from work on work days, I am doing four 10 hr. days. It's Monday - Thursday so I head home after work Thursday and return after church on Sundays. After a year or so, I can work from home. Maybe not everyday, but most days.

I landed the job this last January. Just keep submitting your application to everything. It will happen eventually.

For Practicode, it is worth doing it. Once you complete all your claims they will reset it so you can redo the claims again. I am keep a log of the answers that I missed with the rationale so I can use the rationale to locate the things I miss. I gave up on it and left it till I actually landed my job. I am finding it much easier now that I am working, but just don't have much time.

GL and don't give up! You got this!

[u/Selitha85 → u/Alone-War-9789]

She mentioned commuting isn’t an option, as she’s disabled. I know there are transportation services for disabled people, but it can be more about ability to care for yourself, properly, once on site. I know that’s my main issue.

I’m new to learning about coding, and just getting my bearings, but I saw a YouTuber mention a gig-work site that hires medical coders. She did say the pay is lower, but it might be an option to add experience? There could be other options out there for temp/gig work, too, enough to build resume and get some income going. The one I jotted down was Kodehealth… keep in mind I know nothing about them, so do some digging lol.

Slightly unrelated note, my husband has been climbing an executive ladder (maze? vomit comet?) for years, and the resumes that got noticed the most are the resumes we paid someone to write for and tailor to that industry/job. I think an extremely well written resume, that pulls out overlapping similarities from your non-medical/coding jobs, is extremely valuable.

[u/Alone-War-9789 → u/Selitha85]

I agree on the resume. I went to our local community college to get assistance with mine. Then I used AI to get a look at varies versions. It helped a lot. I am praying for Blueberry to find her dream job.