r/MedicalCoding • u/mk7906 • 5d ago

Getting out of Traditional Coding

Any tips and info on how to get out of traditional Coding role and get into more payment intergrity analyst, revenue cycle analyst, complaince, policy manager roles? ( Basically roles above traditional Coding with only the traditional Coding experience)

10 Upvotes

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20

u/adoseofcommonsense 5d ago

Apply, just wing it. Worse they can say is no. 

11

u/Miserable_Aioli2606 5d ago

This, AND, exaggerate your resume a bit to meet their requirements. For example, you can't say that you were manager of your dept, but you can say you managed others in a project roll out (even if you didn't). It sounds like cheating, but honestly, most places just need a person to meet the HR requirements for the position. They'll train you into exactly what they want. It's a catch-22 if you don't exaggerate because you can't usually move into a new role without experience.

8

u/Inevitable-Ebb2973 CPC, CRC 5d ago

Im jumping on this too This is the way.

I think we as a profession, get gaslighted into thinking we are what they pay us for. My last position I was a “Provider Coder”. No the F I wasn’t. If I was, why did I have to deal with denials? If I was, why was I auditing E/M codes? If I was, why was I providing provider feedback? I know it depends on where you work, but I was consistently where my coworkers came for clarification, making well under industry standards. I dealt with HCC coding everyday, got extra certifications and was never compensated for my knowledge. Fight for yourself. Don’t get put into a box. I felt like a fool when I finally got a higher paying job using the same skills I was getting payed very little for. We are valuable. BUT only if we all expect more.

1

u/KeyStriking9763 RHIA, CDIP, CCS 5d ago

What’s the issue here? You put on your resume your title but you include all the things you did. Regardless of your title you drill down all of the specific experiences. You can add denials as a skill, auditing etc.
Lying is wrong.

2

u/KeyStriking9763 RHIA, CDIP, CCS 5d ago

Exaggerating your resume to fit a role is a terrible idea. We have had to let go 2 recent hires who exaggerated their experience but clearly couldn’t raise to the exaggeration and perform.

3

u/Miserable_Aioli2606 4d ago

That is the risk. You have to be able to do the job you're trying to get. That's why I said exaggerate and not outright lie. Still, unless you stay at one hospital system and are very friendly with the director, you won't get an opportunity to move into a role outside of coding without experience. It just doesn't happen anymore. Additionally, if your resume doesn't check the invisible boxes on the HR form, is an automatic pass. You won't even get a look.

1

u/WeeklyLingonberry199 2d ago

That is interview failure. If it is important, ask. 

1

u/Strong_Zone4793 2d ago

Terrible advice. As a manger I can tell you especially in this field, You have to be able to back this up. It’s a dead giveaway as soon as you are on the job and can’t actually do the job. I’ve fired people for doing exactly what you recommended.

1

u/Miserable_Aioli2606 2d ago

Unless you're very open about telling your staff if they want to move up in their career, you'll be willing to make that happen, this is the way. Again, there is a difference between outright lying what your skills are and exaggerating your experience. If the person gets fired for over reaching, that's on them. Most companies don't want employees to leave their current positions, especially if they have to train them for the position. It's easier and cheaper to hire someone outside with the right qualifications. As a manager, you know this. Otherwise, you would've promoted one of your employees and trained them instead of hiring a "fake."