Purpose of the CMRS Exam
The purpose of this certification is to promote ethical and professional medical billing through certification of qualified individuals by formally recognizing proficiency demonstrated by having passed the CMRS (Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist) exam, encouraging continued professional and personal best development and providing a national standard assessment based on industry knowledge. Certification demonstrates to physicians, employers and others that you have taken proactive steps to advance your education, knowledge and skills.
About our Exam
Our exam is a voluntary, credential that was created specifically for the medical billing professional. We've been providing this industry certification and designation for over 10 years.
The CMRS designation is awarded by the Certifying Board of the American Medical Billing Association (CBAMBA). Although there is no state or Federal requirement of a medical billing professional to become certified to practice medical billing, it is our goal to provide a professional certification exam that upholds a high ethical standard of knowledge that recognizes the competency of a certificant.
Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialists (CMRS) are skilled in facilitating the claims paying process from the time a service is rendered by a health care provider until the balance is paid. The CMRS is knowledgeable in ICD-10, CPT4 and HCPCS Coding, Medical Terminology, Insurance claims and billing, appeals and denials, fraud and abuse, HIPAA, OIG Compliance, information and web technology, reimbursement, and much more. CMRS Billers play a critical role in a health care provider's daily business operations.
Why Certification?
Certification provides knowledge and credibility to the biller and to potential health care providers as well as employers. It demonstrates your commitment and dedication in providing the highest standards possible in Claims Management and Medical Billing. Certification presents solid confirmation of your desire to offer qualified services in an industry that is complex and demands specialized training. Certification provides verification of competency and assurance of continued education to maintain the credential. CMRS testing is provided on a national level. Our credential allows billers to empower themselves by taking steps to improve confidence and enhance value to the industry and the doctors they work with.
More and more physicians and other healthcare providers are looking for certified professionals that understand regulatory and business issues that affect their practices. CMRS's have the knowledge, skills and confidence to be more effective in increasing revenue, preventing fraud and abuse and researching and finding information that helps practices succeed in today's environment and economy.
More Information
Our idea of an exam meant that it would need to be thorough, complete and most of all -- credible. We wanted it to be reflective and representative of our industry, resulting in 16 sections ranging from Medical Terminology to Compliance, requiring over 700 answers with a cut score of 85% accuracy to pass and earn the CMRS credential designation.
The CMRS Exam is divided into 16 Sections:
Medical Terminology
Anatomy and Physiology
Information Technology
Web and Information Technology
ICD-10-CM Coding
CPT-4 Coding
Clearinghouses
CMS 1500
Insurance
Insurance Carriers
Acronyms
Compliance
Fraud and Abuse
Managed Care
General
Case Study
The CMRS Exam is taken online through our secure Learning Management System. You'll have 45 days access to complete the exam. Each section can be reviewed before submission. Upon submission, a grade for that section will be provided. Once you have completed the exam, your final score is available immediately. CMRS Certifications are mailed upon completion and arrive in about 3 to 5 business days and are valid for one year from the date you complete the exam. Each year, you will be required to submit 15 continuing education units (CEUs) in order to extend your credential for another year. A current certificate is sent each year.
Two free retakes are allowed with a mandatory 30 day waiting period between retakes (but not more than 60 days).
Schools and teaching facilities that would like to make our exam available to their students can be set to easily administer the exam from our secure management system. Contact Us for more information.
Study materials are optional and available through the AMBA in e-Book format that will assist you in taking the exam. The study materials are priced at $199 and are available through our online store. The Study Guide follows the exam layout listed above.
In order to take the exam, you must be a member of AMBA and you will be required to maintain an annual membership to AMBA as well as maintaining the required 15 (CEUs) You should have experience in billing or have a good foundation of knowledge in medical billing to successfully pass the exam. You are required to have a high school diploma or the equivalent.