It’s no surprise that people will flock to DecisionHealth’s four specialty coding conferences next week. Where else can coders, billers, compliance managers and clinicians from anesthesia, cardiology, orthopedic, pain management practices get two and half days of expert guidance custom made for their specialty and pick up a sizeable number of CEUs in the process?
 
But what does surprise us is the endurance of the attendees. On the last day of the conference, after they spend the first part of the week getting their heads packed with facts, not a few attendees will sit down and take an exam.
 
That’s right, the Board of Medical Specialty Coding (BMSC), DecisionHealth’s credentialing division, offers specialty coding certification and people who want to push their brains to the max will take a proctored exam right after the conference ends. They’ll sit to be certified or recertified as a Specialty Coding Professional or an Advanced Coding Specialist for one of the four specialties.
 
From what we’ve heard the tests aren’t easy, so we salute those who will round out the conference with another cerebral workout. But we hope they won’t be too nervous – Under BMSC’s policy, if at first they don’t succeed, test takers will get a second shot.