Skip to Main Content

*School of Health Sciences*

CCA and CCS Allowable Code Books

CODING    Wording updated 2/16/2024

MPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS for AHIMA CCA and CCS TESTERS

ALLOWABLE CODE BOOKS- 

Beginning May 1, of each year test takers, AHIMA updates the Allowable Code Books which can be taken in to the CCA and CCS exams of which Editions of ICD-CM, ICD-PCS and CPT will be allowed into the exam. It is your responsibility to check the AHIMA website for update regarding Allowable Books for the date you plan to test.  You can find this information on the AHIMA Website  https://www.ahima.org/certification/CCA   

If you bring incorrect code books you will not be allowed to test at the Pearson Vue testing site and will forfeit the payment made by Rasmussen for your first attempt at the exam.  You will then need to reapply and pay the exam fee yourself.  Please contact your Program Coordinator if you have any questions.

BETA TEST PERIOD 

Periodically AHIMA will schedule beta test period for the CCS and CCS-P exams.  Please check with AHIMA to determine if the exam you’re scheduled to take is in beta.

The purpose of beta testing is to evaluate new exam questions by having them answered by real credential candidates. The beta period is used to evaluate the exam questions and to determine the scaled scoring. The length of the beta period is determined by how long it takes to have enough candidates complete the exam. After the beta period ends test results are provided immediately upon exam completion.

Coding

Instructors

  • Be sure to connect with your instructor. Go to live sessions, visit them during virtual office hours, email them, etc.

Tutors

Tutor Tip

  • Tab your coding books during week one; otherwise it is easy to become overwhelmed with the amount of information in the book. **Note:  Coding Books are not allowed in the testing room when you take your RHIT exam.  For the CCA or CCS exam, you can bring in the coding books listed as “Allowable Coding Books”; however, homemade tabs or Post-it notes are not allowed on your books, so be sure to remove them before arriving for the test.** 

​Ambulatory Coding Tip

eBooks

3M ENCODER ICD-10-CM CODE FINDER WALK THROUGH

Created by Tina Dodge, Peer Tutor

https://3m.ahima.org:8080/launchCRS.html

After logging into the 3M Encoder using the username and password given to you by your instructor (this will be the same as Quantim), you will be on the Patient Information screen.

On the top right side of the screen, you will see a row of books.  Click on the book with the “10” on it. This will open a new window.

 

Let’s find the ICD-10-CM code for Foreign body in conjunctiva initial encounter

STEP 1: On the top left of the screen under the word “Diagnoses,” you will see an “Index Term Search” box. Type in the word “Foreign Body.”  As you are typing, the index box below will bring up the term you are looking for, highlighted in blue.

STEP 2:  Under the term “Foreign Body,” scroll down until you locate the term “Conjunctival (sac).”  The code T15.1 will be blue and underlined. Click on the code.  This will bring your Tabular to the left side of the screen.

STEP 3:  You will see that there is a “+” under the code; this means you need to add digits. Click on the code.  This will bring up a box.  Read through the codes to see which applies to you diagnosis. For this case, T15.10XA is the correct code because we are not told which eye, and it is the initial encounter.

To find your next code, simply type your keyword into the Index Terms Search.

3M ENCODER ICD-10-PCS CODE FINDER WALK THROUGH

Created by Tina Dodge, Peer Tutor

http://3m.ahima.org:8080/launchCRS.html

After logging into the 3M Encoder using the username and password given to you by your instructor (this will be the same as Quantim), you will be on the Patient Information screen.

On the top right side of the screen, you will see a row of books.  Click on the book with the “10” on it. This will open a new window.

At top right side of the screen select the tab “Procedures.”

Let’s find the procedure code for Below the knee right amputation at the tibial tuberosity

STEP 1: On the left right side of the screen in the “Index Term Search” box, type in the root word "Detachment."  In the index below, you will see that Detachment is highlighted in blue.

STEP 2: Scroll down until you find the word “Leg.”

STEP 3: Click on the code for Leg/lower/right:  0Y6H0Z.

STEP 4: On the left side of the screen, you will now see the Section, Body System, Operation, Body Part, Approach, Device, and Qualifier boxes. This is your Tabular.

Go to each box and click on the appropriate circle:

  • Body Part:  It is already marked “H” from the index.
  • Approach:  “Open” is already marked, as it is the only approach available.
  • Device:  “No Device” is already marked, as that is the only option available.
  • Qualifier:  Click the circle “1”,since the tibaial tuberosity is found on the proximal portion of the tibia.

Your full code will be displayed at the top:  0Y6H0Z1

Select “Clear All” to start locating your next code.

3M ENCODER CPT CODE FINDER WALK THROUGH

Created by Tina Dodge, Peer Tutor

http://3m.ahima.org:8080/launchCRS.html

After logging into the 3M Encoder using the username and password given to you by your instructor (this will be the same as Quantim), you will be on the Patient Information screen.

On the left side of the patient information box, you will only need to use the “Gender” and “Age” categories.  Note that the only time you need to change the gender is when the surgery is gender related (for example, hysterectomy is a female procedure, and vasectomy is a male procedure).  The same is true of age--the only time you will need to change the age you entered is if the procedure is age specific (for example, tonsillectomy on a child under 12).

The only thing that you will change on the right side of the patient information box is the “Product.”

Let’s find the code for Removal of foreign body right auditory canal

STEP 1:  Select Male or Female for the “Gender.”

STEP 2:  Type in an age.

STEP 3:  Click on the dropdown box under “Product."  Select “HCPCS/CPTFINDER” and hit enter.

You should now be on the “Patient Code Summary" page.

STEP 4:  On the left side of the screen, click on “Add Procedure."  You should now be on the “Procedure Page."

STEP 6: In the “Enter Keyword or Code” box, type in “Removal,” and hit enter.

STEP 7: Select “Removal” (placing your cursor over the word will bring up a window with a description).

You should now be on the “Removal of Screen”.

STEP 8: Select “Foreign Body."  You should now be on the “Removal of Foreign Body or Calculus/stone” screen.

STEP 9: Select “Ear (Intraluminal).”

STEP 10: Select “Unspecified” since it did not notate what was being removed.

STEP 11: Select “Without General Anesthesia” since it did not notate if anesthesia was used.  You should now have your code:  69200. However, we need to add a modifier since we know the procedure was on the right ear.

STEP 12: Click on the code description so it is highlighted in gray.

STEP 13: On the top of the screen, select “Options.”

STEP 14: In the dropdown menu, select “Add/Delete Modifier.”

STEP 15: In the dropdown menu under “Modifier Category,” select “All Modifiers.”

STEP 16: Scroll through the modifiers until you find the modifier “RT-Right side of body” and click “OK.”  This will add the modifier to your code:  69200-RT.

**SPECIAL NOTES:

  • Placing your cursor over the word will bring up a window with a description.
  • To look up your next code, click on “Add Procedure.”  This will take you back to where you will enter your keyword.
  • If you need to change the patient’s “Gender” or “Age,” click on “Cancel.  This will take you back to the “Patient Information Screen."
  • If you want to verify codes, on the “Procedure” screen, type your code into the “Enter Keyword or Code” box.  This will bring up the codes description.

The new system update with AHIMA has us now using the link to the far right called “Add New Facility Encounter."  By selecting that link, you will see this...

You will want to select the button that is circled in green to the far right, which looks like an open expanding window.  It will give you a dropdown.  You will want to select code books or references depending on what you are attempting with the assignment.

Once you select code books, you will be given the options below the cancel button and the dropdown with code books and references.  At that point, you will want to select the book that is circled in green, titled Code Packages. This will get you to where you want to go based on the information provided for your codes.