Wiki COBGC "other reference" please help!

[Lisa Bledsoe]

Ok, so I have posted this question twice on the OB/GYN forum. Now I'm going to post it here in hopes for a response. I want to know if anyone has any suggestions for a good reference to bring along for the COBGC specialty exam. I even emailed the Academy and received a universal/general response below. I wanted to know if either the OB/GYN coding companion or Code Pathways for OB/GYN were acceptable. I don't want to show up with a reference of my choice and be denied use of it should I need it. Here is the Academy's resopnse - what do you all make of it?

Thank you for your email: Items you may not bring to the examination:
Due to the advantages of additional information and/or ease of use, the following books cannot be used during the exam.
Current Procedural Coding Expert® - Ingenix
Procedural Coding Professional - Contexo
Procedural Coding Professional - AAPC
Procedural Coding Expert - Contexo
Procedural Coding Expert - AAPC
CPT® Insider's View - AMA
CPT® Plus! - PMIC
Coders' Choice CPT® - PMIC
ICD-9-CM Easy Coder - Unicor
What kinds of coding tools can I bring to the examination?

CPT® Books (AMA standard or professional edition ONLY) no other publisher is allowed
Your choice of ICD-9-CM
Your choice of HCPCS Level II
In addition to Highly Recommended References (as stated below or on individual specialty pages):
One reference of your choice (also permitted, optional)
Note: Any officially published corrections or errata belonging to these three references are also permitted. The AAPC uses only the current calendar year codes on all exams. Second attempt exams occurring in the next calendar year will not be permitted to take the previous year's exam.

List of Approved Manuals

Certification Type
Credential
Highly Recommended Reference
Optional References Also Permitted

Core: Professional
CPC®
None
None

Core: Out-Patient Facility
CPC-H®
None
None

Core: Payer
CPC-P®
None
None

Core: Interventional Radiology
CIRCC®
• Anatomical charts labeled with catheter selectivity
None

Anesthesia/Pain Management
CANPCâ„¢
• ASA RVG
• CPT® crosswalk
• E/M Audit Worksheet of your choice
• Both CMS DGs (1995 & 1997)
• One reference of your choice

Ambulatory Surgery Center
CASCCâ„¢

• One reference of your choice

Cardiology
CCCâ„¢
• Anatomical charts or pictures of the vascular tree
• Both CMS DGs (1995 & 1997)
• E/M Audit Worksheet of your choice
• One reference of your choice

Cardiovascular/Thoracic
CCVTCâ„¢
• Anatomical charts or pictures of the vascular tree
• Both CMS DGs (1995 & 1997)
• E/M Audit Worksheet of your choice
• One reference of your choice

Dermatology
CDERCâ„¢
• E/M Audit Worksheet of your choice
• Both CMS DGs (1995 & 1997)
• One reference of your choice

Emergency Department
CEDCâ„¢
• E/M Audit Worksheet of your choice
• Both CMS DGs (1995 & 1997)
• One reference of your choice

Evaluation and Management
CEMCâ„¢
• E/M Audit Worksheet of your choice
• Both CMS DGs (1995 & 1997)
• One reference of your choice

Family Practice
CFPCâ„¢
• E/M Audit Worksheet of your choice
• Both CMS DGs (1995 & 1997)
• One reference of your choice

Gastroenterology
CGICâ„¢
• E/M Audit Worksheet of your choice
• Both CMS DGs (1995 & 1997)
• One reference of your choice

General Surgery
CGSCâ„¢
• E/M Audit Worksheet of your choice
• Both CMS DGs (1995 & 1997)
• One reference of your choice

Internal Medicine
CIMCâ„¢
• E/M Audit Worksheet of your choice
• Both CMS DGs (1995 & 1997)
• One reference of your choice

Obstetrics/Gynecology
COBGCâ„¢
• E/M Audit Worksheet of your choice
• Both CMS DGs (1995 & 1997)
• One reference of your choice

Orthopedic Surgery
COSCâ„¢
• Both volumes of the Coding Companion
• E/M Audit Worksheet of your choice
• Both CMS DGs (1995 & 1997)
• One reference of your choice

Otolaryngology
CENTCâ„¢
• E/M Audit Worksheet of your choice
• Both CMS DGs (1995 & 1997)
• One reference of your choice

Pediatrics
CPEDCâ„¢
• E/M Audit Worksheet of your choice
• Both CMS DGs (1995 & 1997)
• One reference of your choice

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
CPRCâ„¢
• E/M Audit Worksheet of your choice
• Both CMS DGs (1995 & 1997)
• One reference of your choice

Rheumatology
CRHCâ„¢
• E/M Audit Worksheet of your choice
• Both CMS DGs (1995 & 1997)
• One reference of your choice

Urology
CUCâ„¢
• E/M Audit Worksheet of your choice
• Both CMS DGs (1995 & 1997)
• One reference of your choice

 

[FTessaBartels]

One reference OF YOUR CHOICE

Lisa,
It clearly states for the COBGC that in addition to the CPT, ICD9 and HCPCS it is "highly recommended" that you bring E/M audit worksheet of your choice and BOTH CMS DGs (1995 & 1997) ... in addition you are permitted to bring one reference of your choice.

That means exactly what it says. Any ONE additional reference book of your choice. So yes, the OB/GYN coding companion would qualify. So would a medical dictionary. So would the Coding Pathways for OB/GYN. But you can only bring ONE of these.

So you could bring with you:
CPT (required)
ICD9 (required)
HCPCs (required)
E/M audit worksheet (highly recommended)
BOTH CMS DGs (1995 & 1997) (highly recommended)
OB/GYN Coding Companion (Additional reference of your choice)

When the test packets are sent to the proctor, there will be a stack of AAPC Examination Instructions, which is a single sheet of paper printed on both sides. These should be handed out to each test taker in the room. On the reverse side of the printed instructions is a table listing the required, highly recommended and permitted reference books allowed for each type of exam.

If your proctor gives you a hard time (the rules have changed since I first took the CPC and even since I took the CEMC) ... just refer to the table. It says right on it "In addition to Highly Recommended references, also permitted (optional)" (The "opional" means that it is optional to the student, not to the proctor.)

If the proctor still has questions, in the proctor's instructions is a cell phone number where the proctor can call an AAPC representative at national who will clarify.

Good luck on the test!

F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC

 

[Lisa Bledsoe]

Thanks Tessa - When I took the CEMC the proctors wouldn't let me use my medical dictionary that I brought (I didn't really need it, but couldn't think of any other printed reference of my choice to bring)...I was much more comfortable with the CEMC than I am the COBGC (probably because one of my docs - a known troublemaker - is questioning my professional abilities). I will bring one of the two I mentioned in my email and a copy of the email from the Academy. I truly appreciate your insight here!! Thank you!