Courses & Services

Courses

The Coding Nurse® offers a variety of courses that will help get you get positioned in your new career.

ICD-10-CM

Master diagnosis coding

This foundational coding course will teach you inpatient/outpatient coding and reimbursement methodologies.

$1,499

  • Introductory to Advanced Diagnosis Coding
  • Coding Conventions
  • Coding Guidelines
  • Reimbursement Methodology (MS-DRGs/APR-DRGs)
  • Overview of Outpatient Prospective Payment Systems
  • Overview of Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems.
  • Eligible for CRC (Certified Risk Adjustment Coder) and HCS-D (Homecare Coding Specialist - Diagnosis) coding credentials

ICD-10-PCS

Master inpatient coding

Master inpatient coding conventions, guidelines, and payment methodologies.

$1,399

  • Hospital Inpatient Procedure Coding
  • Coding Conventions
  • Coding Guidelines
  • Advanced Knowledge of Root Operations
  • Overview of Inpatient Prospective Payment System

CPT/HCPCS

Master outpatient coding

Master outpatient coding conventions, guidelines, and payment methodologies.

$1,499

  • Outpatient Procedure Coding
  • Coding Guidelines
  • Evaluation & Management (E/M)
  • Anesthesia, Surgery, Radiology, Pathology, and Medicine
  • Advanced Knowledge of Modifiers
  • Overview of Outpatient Prospective Payment System

CDI

Master clinical documentation review

Master clinical documentation review while optimizing facility reimbursement.

$1,499

  • Use coding knowledge to make sure medical record is complete and accurate
  • Learn compliant querying process
  • Use knowledge of inpatient prospective payment system to optimize reimbursement for facilities
  • Review of advanced ICD-10-CM coding
  • Review of advanced ICD-10-PCS coding

Other Services

From tutoring to coding services—The Coding Nurse® has your back.

Tutoring

Personalized coding tutoring for exams and providers.

Tutoring sessions tailored to your learning style for exam preparation.

$40/hour

  • Sessions focused on individual needs and learning style
  • Perfect for exam or re-exam preparation
  • Tutoring available for ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, and CPT/HCPCS code sets ($40 per hour)
  • Tutoring available for billing and coding for providers ($100 per hour)

Billing & Coding

Billing support, coding audits, and instruction for providers.

Providing billing support, coding audits, & instruction for independent providers.

Inquire for Rates

  • Independent billing & coding support
  • One-on-One billing and coding instruction
  • Specialize in CLIA Lab and mental health billing for independent providers
  • Review of denied claims
  • Re-submission of denied claims
  • Audit of coding and clinical documentation, along with appropriate education, to enhance and streamline the revenue cycle of your business

CDI and DRG Validation

Same code sets - two different roles

CDI vs. DRG Validation

A side-by-side comparison of two inpatient coding roles built on ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS.
Aspect Clinical Documentation Integrity (CDI) DRG Validation
Primary PurposeImprove the quality, accuracy, and completeness of clinical documentation in the medical record.Verify that the assigned DRG accurately reflects the documentation and coding after the chart is finalized.
Timing of ReviewConcurrent — typically while the patient is still admitted.Retrospective — after discharge, coding, and billing (often pre-bill or post-bill audit).
GoalEnsure documentation supports the highest level of specificity for diagnoses, procedures, severity of illness (SOI), and risk of mortality (ROM).Confirm coding accuracy, sequencing, and DRG assignment; identify over-coding, under-coding, or unsupported codes.
Primary CustomerPhysicians and clinical staff.Coding department, compliance, payers, and revenue integrity.
Interaction with ProvidersHigh — issues compliant queries to clarify ambiguous, conflicting, or incomplete documentation.Low to none — typically does not query providers; communicates findings to coders or auditors.
Focus within ICD-10-CM/PCSCapturing all reportable conditions, ensuring diagnoses are documented with required specificity (acuity, type, linkage, POA status).Validating that codes assigned match documentation, follow Official Coding Guidelines, AHA Coding Clinic, and proper sequencing rules.
Impact on Principal DiagnosisInfluences which condition can be supported as PDx through clarification of provider intent.Determines whether the selected PDx meets UHDDS definition and is properly sequenced.
CC/MCC ConsiderationsIdentifies opportunities for providers to document conditions that may qualify as CCs/MCCs.Validates that reported CCs/MCCs are clinically supported and correctly coded.
Use of Clinical IndicatorsReviews labs, vitals, meds, and treatment to identify documentation gaps and trigger queries.Reviews clinical indicators to confirm a coded diagnosis is clinically valid (e.g., sepsis, AKI, malnutrition, respiratory failure).
Output / DeliverableProvider queries, documentation recommendations, working DRG.DRG change recommendations, audit findings, denial defense, rebill or correction requests.
Regulatory / Compliance LensFollows ACDIS/AHIMA query practice briefs; ensures queries are compliant and non-leading.Follows Official Coding Guidelines, Coding Clinic, UHDDS, CMS rules; often defends against payer DRG downgrades.
Typical BackgroundRN, LPN, MD, or experienced coder with clinical knowledge.Experienced inpatient coder (CCS) with strong knowledge of MS-DRG / APR-DRG grouping logic.
Common CredentialsCCDS, CDIP, CCDS-O, CIC, CCS.CCS, CIC, CCDS (sometimes), CDIP.
Metrics of SuccessQuery rate, query response / agreement rate, CMI impact, SOI/ROM capture.DRG change rate, accuracy rate, dollars recovered / protected, denial overturn rate.
Relationship to the Other RoleSets the stage — better documentation upstream reduces DRG validation issues downstream.Acts as a quality check — findings often feed back into CDI education and process improvement.