The CRIP certification is a professional accreditation, which is offered to members in good standing of the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management. It is short for “Certified Revenue Integrity Professional.” The CRIP ensures the highest standards of accuracy, reliability, and relevant expertise among individuals working in the healthcare industry in the issuance of charge-masters. In the American healthcare system, the proper billing and documentation of services rendered to every patient is essential. This accreditation requires a lengthy online exam. It helps to mitigate the possibility of human error. It does this by ensuring that only qualified individuals are recognized as being suitable for this particular function.
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What Is a Charge Master?
In the American healthcare system, the charge master, is also known as “chargemaster” or “charge description master.” They are the master list of charges to be issued to a patient’s insurance provider. In the absence of medical insurance, charges may be issued:
- to the patient directly
- to a government disability insurance program
- to another authorized party (such as a duly appointed representative, normally with power of attorney)
In most official healthcare-related documentation, the chargemaster is referenced as the CDM. It is at the point of drawing up the CDM where human error most frequently occurs. This can result in inflated or additional charges being submitted inappropriately. Such an event can have disastrous consequences for a patient whose finances are already strained by the legitimate costs of their healthcare procedures.
How Is CRIP Certification Obtained?
CRIP is a highly accredited certification, which commands a great deal of respect throughout the American healthcare industry. While it is not directly relevant to the way many foreign healthcare systems operate, it is still greatly respected for the standards that it represents. Certification requires an exam, which is now taken online. It takes about four hours to complete. The exam consists of 250 questions. These are either true/false or multiple choice questions.
It is divided into sections. The examinee must achieve a minimum of 70% accuracy in each section in order to pass the exam (not just that section).
Eligible candidates must be members in good standing of the AAHAM. They must also have at least two years’ relevant experience in the healthcare field. Two years’ academic experience may, depending upon the nature of that experience, replace the professional prerequisite.
Why Is the CRIP Important?
The Certified Revenue Integrity Professional accredits an individual as having multiple vital qualities for service in its related capacity. The maintenance of accurate financial records and charges is particularly vital in the healthcare field. The subject of costs and expenses is never simple — and is always controversial. The skills which are ratified by the certification itself. The integrity and the reputation of the American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management provides a reliable accreditation of a candidate’s background and character. This certification is one more highly professional and widely recognized reassurance that an individual is well-suited to the task at hand.
The CRIP certification provides vital reassurance that the professional in charge of filing expenses is someone highly qualified and well-suited to their position. It does this through the use of an in-depth examination process, as well as by the accreditation of the highly reputable professional association through which the CRIP is exclusively made available.