BCHHC Certification Prep

What is the BCHHC?

The Board Certified Home Health Coder (BCHHC) credential validates expertise in ICD-10-CM coding for home health, OASIS assessments, and the PDGM payment model. Offered by the Board of Medical Specialty Coding & Compliance (BMSCC).

Why Pursue BCHHC?

•Demonstrates specialised home health coding competency

•Required or preferred for HIM and coding roles at home health agencies

•Improves PDGM coding accuracy, directly impacting agency revenue

•Aligns with CMS compliance requirements for accurate claim submission

Exam Format

•Multiple choice + case-based coding scenarios

•Tests: ICD-10-CM conventions, OASIS types, PDGM factors, homebound criteria

•Renewal: every 2 years with continuing education

Who Should Take This?

Medical coders transitioning to home health, HIM professionals, clinical documentation improvement (CDI) specialists, and home health agency billing staff.

Study Domains

1.ICD-10-CM conventions and sequencing for home health

2.OASIS assessment types (SOC, ROC, REC, SCIC, DC) and timing

3.PDGM: 5 factors, 12 clinical groups, LUPA thresholds

4.Homebound documentation requirements

5.High-frequency coding scenarios: wounds, CVA, diabetes, HTN combinations

Why BCHHC Matters

The BCHHC credential directly impacts agency revenue. Accurate primary diagnosis selection determines the PDGM clinical group, which determines reimbursement. One wrong code can misplace a patient into the wrong clinical group, costing the agency hundreds of dollars per episode.

Who Needs This Certification

Home health coders, HIM professionals, CDI specialists, and billing staff at home health agencies. The certification demonstrates specialised competency that employers actively seek for compliance and accurate claim submission.

What the Exam Covers

•ICD-10-CM conventions and sequencing rules specific to home health

•OASIS assessment types, timing requirements, and who can complete them

•PDGM: five classification factors and 12 clinical groups

•Homebound documentation standards

•High-frequency coding scenarios: wounds, CVA sequela, diabetes, HTN combinations

•Plan of care (Form 485) requirements

Study Timeline

Most candidates need 6-8 weeks of structured preparation. The fundamentals section covers ICD-10-CM conventions. The intermediate section covers OASIS and PDGM in depth. The advanced section covers complex multi-condition coding scenarios. The interview section contains practice exam questions.

How to Use This Academy

Work through each section in order: Fundamentals → Intermediate → Advanced → Interview Q&A → Cheatsheet. The Roadmap section gives you a week-by-week study plan. The Projects section has full patient coding case studies to practice on.

After completing all sections, take the mock exams under timed conditions (simulating the actual BCHHC exam environment). Review every wrong answer and trace back to the ICD-10-CM guideline or PDGM rule that applies.

Key Numbers to Memorise

•SOC OASIS: within 5 calendar days of first visit

•ROC OASIS: within 24 hours of return from hospital

•PDGM payment period: 30 days (not 60)

•PDGM clinical groups: 12 groups

•PDGM classification factors: 5 factors

BCHHC Certification Prep — Overview