October 2011
BMSC Becomes Credentialing Arm for Home Care Professional Association
Effective October 17, 2011, The Board of Medical Specialty Coding (BMSC) becomes the credentialing arm of the Association of Home Care Coding & Compliance (AHCC), to provide all BMSC home care specialty credential candidates and credential holders with a support community and valuable career benefits not previously associated with the Home Care Coding Specialist-Diagnosis (HCS-D) and Home Care Clinical Specialist-OASIS (HCS-O) credential. These include:
- Exclusive online career center – Find the best jobs in your area and get expert advice to increase your earning potential
- Proprietary guidance and tools – Master the transition to ICD-10, get expert advice and download tools to ensure accurate coding and documentation
- Electronic Member magazine and email newsletter – Keep up with coding and regulatory changes and best practices
- Professional development webinars – Increase your knowledge and increase your worth to current and future employers
- More opportunities to earn CEUs to maintain your certification
- Discounts on a wide range of products from DecisionHealth
Plus, your membership will support AHCC’s core advocacy mission of enhancing the professional stature and value of home health professionals across the country.
For New Home Care Examination Candidates: As a Home Care Specialty Credential Candidate for our HCS-D and/or HCS-O examination, an AHCC membership fee will be incorporated into your initial certification fees which gives you a one-year membership into the Association of Home Care Coding & Compliance (AHCC). You will receive an email confirmation of your membership once your examination registration fees have been processed.
Once you become HCS-D and/or HCS-O certified, your AHCC membership fees will be included in your regular renewal and recertification cycle.
For Current Home Care Credential Holders: As a BMSC Home Care Specialty Credential Holder, you will be entitled to AHCC membership for just $40 a year, which is a 69% discount off the regular AHCC membership fee of $125. The $40 will be incorporated into BMSC’s recertification and renewal fees, which will be $189 and $129, respectively, effective October 1, 2011. Your membership is complementary between October 1, 2011, and the time of your next regular renewal or recertification.
With the merger, all BMSC HCS-D and HCS-O credential holders will become members of AHCC, and your alternating annual recertification and renewal will automatically renew your membership in AHCC for the following 12 months.
If you have questions regarding your BMSC credential and/or your AHCC membership, please email us at info@medicalspecialtycoding.com or ahcc@decisionhealth.com.
