Hi everyone! I am getting close to the end of Module II and getting ready to take my the exam that deals with modifiers and I am getting nervous. I have been doing really great up until now and I feel like this part may be where I struggle the most. I have been reading the chapter and reading the chapter(chapter 9) that has to do with modifiers and some of it is making sense and some of it is..well... quite overwhelming to be honest. I am having trouble trying to decide when to use a modifier and which ones apply to what. There are so many different scenarios when you might use a modifier and might not use one. I can see that the Evaluation and Management section is going to be challenging also. I am trying to slow down and really try to understand when to use the modifiers. Did anybody else find that section complicated, and if so, do you have any tips on how I might make things easier to understand before I take the test?
This part was tough for me, too, but you just have to take your time. The trick is not let it overwhelm you, which is easier said than done. There have been a couple times when I was ready to panic, but I finally dove in and started working the answers little by little. I've learned that the instructors are more than helpful--they are amazing! Don't be afraid to ask them for help--that's what they're there for--and they are very good at explaining the things that seem impossible to understand at first. Best wishes to you--I'm sure you'll do great!
Hi Laurie!
Thank you for responding. I think that I just need to spend a lot of time reading and trying to make sense of the entire picture. I have felt like panicking too but there are so many others out there, including yourself, that have made it through this part so I am going to have to trust that I will too. I am excited about medical coding and am not going to let this part scare me away! I think it will be a great career once I am able to understand it all and be able to put it to use.
Hi,
Yes, you'll do fine, and always remember the exams are open-book, so you don't have to memorize anything, you just have to be good at remembering where to find it and look it up correctly. Some of the modifiers are quite similar, but like you said take your time! With practice, it will get easier.
Another tip: don't forget to put the dash (-) before each code on that exam. IT IS REQUIRED!! I learned that one the hard way! I would recommend reviewing the exam instructions for Module II, before taking the exam.
Good luck!