HCS-D - Home Care Coding Specialist - Diagnosis

The Homecare Coding Specialist – Diagnosis (HCS-D) certification through the Board of Medical Specialty Coding and Compliance (BMSC) is for clinicians and allied health professionals working in home healthcare. This national specialty certification is earned by exam and demonstrates the clinical skills and judgment required to correctly apply the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) diagnosis codes. HCS-D credential holders include Registered Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists, Coding Specialists, Billing Specialists, Compliance Directors, Quality Assurance Directors, and Agency Directors. Specialists with HCS-D credentials must understand:

• ICD-10 coding conventions and guidelines

• medical terminology

• disease processes

• pathophysiology

• anatomy and physiology

• pharmacology

HCS-D specialists collect patient information, assign accurate diagnosis codes, collaborate with physicians, and ensure activities are performed legally and ethically in homecare agencies.

Costs

• Testing Center: $329 for U.S. candidates and $429 for international candidates

• Remote Proctor: $329

• Rescheduling exam 5-29 days before the scheduled date: $35

• Re-take fee: $99 for U.S. candidates and $199 for international candidates

• Rescheduling the exam less than 5 days before the scheduled date, failing to appear or arriving more than 30 minutes after scheduled time: full test fee

Candidates must pass the HCS-D written exam to earn this credential. Training and review courses are available.

HCS-D Exam:

There are two ways to take an exam through BMSC: at a computer-based testing center OR by a remote proctor.

The HCS-O certification exam is 3.5 hours long and contains 90 questions. The passing score for the HCS-O exam is 76%. All BMSC exams are “open book.” 

Candidates can retake the HCS-O certification exam within 90 days of their initial or the previous certification exam for $99 in the U.S. or a remote proctor through Prometric.

Candidates must have, at a minimum, a high school diploma or have an equivalent background. Two years of homecare experience are recommended but not required.

The Homecare Coding Specialist – Diagnosis (HCS-D) candidate must agree to abide by the BMSC Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct are included in the candidate handbook.

The HCS-D certification requires annual recertification to remain active.

Renewal Fees

• $229

• Recertifying within 90 days after credentials expiration date: 15% late fee

HCS-D renewal requires twenty (20) CEUs annually.

The BMSC offers resources for exam candidates, including:

• Candidate Handbook

• Intermediate Coding Virtual Seminar (Cost: $499)

• Homecare Clinical Specialist-OASIS (HCS-O)

• Certificate for OASIS Specialist - Clinical (COS-C)

• Certified OASIS Quality Specialist (COQS)

• Board Certified Home Health Coder (BCHH-C)