The CPPM Test compared with others
To all that are interested in this CPPM credential,
I purchased the online test and the CPPM manual with question and answer booklet and have prior managerial experience as a billing manager for 5 years. This exam was different in comparison to the CPMA and the CEMC. The CPMA you had to know rules and regulations and understand what to look for in clinical documentation. There was concrete information that one would study and see the questions for on the exam. The questions were precise and if you studied well enough , you would know the answers . THE CEMC -you had your
coding books and had to know how to level E/M codes in every coding situation whether it be in the office or hospital. I had no problem with either of these exams. I also took the AHIMA CCA - which again - you have your books and all the information you need to get through the exam.
CPPM - there are 50 more questions than the usual 150 AAPC exams , no books allowed and I have to agree with some of the other people that commented regarding the answer choices being too similar to one another as well as other information in the exam that was not in the manual . I walked away from the exam very disappointed knowing that if I didn't pass it ,
I wasn't going to take it again on the free retake and that was because of the test format . For the all the money used to purchase the manual there should have been better worded questions with a solid answer choice. This was not the case . I have a good memory and placed a lot of the material to memory which I thought would be on the exam and was again surprised and disappointed that relevant practice manager questions were not included. I have no regrets learning what I did from the CPPM manual , I have more knowledge that I can now take to the office because of the manual . But the test outline needs improvement and should have covered more topics found in the manual with a much better answer selection.
Sometimes I would look at choice b and choice b would seem to be a continued response from choice A. No better no worse - . This was frustrating as this was the way many questions were presented.
Tips : Bring a calculator , know how to read all kinds of A/R charts . Know all your formulas which are in the CPPM manual . The CPPM manual hits on certain topics - but I would strongly advise that you go to websites to learn more about those topics because I also found that there was information on the test that was not found in the manual. I happen to keep current on certain issues so I was able to get some of those right.
I passed and I am glad but had to share the experience of this exam with anyone considering it. If anyone from AAPC managements reads this review , there has to be better worded questions and answers presented on this exam. There should also be more of a variety of subjects placed into the exam. The certification test is not a good fit for the CPPM manual which was a wonderful guide and educational tool by the way . This was the first review I was ever moved to write but I wanted to share as others did on the experience of taking this particular test.