What kinds of pens/highlighters do you use?

I use erasable gel pens purchased on amazon for making notes. Making mistakes when writing is expected, and having erasable pens take the pressure off of making those mistakes in expensive books. Here are the Amazon links to the pens and highlighters I use for my books:

Pilot FriXion Clicker ERASABLE Gel Pens

Sharpie Pastel Highlighters / ZEYAR Dual-tip Macaron Highlighters

Mechanical Colored Pencils, Erasable

Am I allowed to write these notes in my books if I’m going to take a test?

Yes, handwritten notes are 100% allowed in your books!

You may write coding examples and other relevant information, so long as it pertain to daily (coding/billing/auditing) activities. Questions directly from AAPC/AMBA/AHIMA study guides, practice exams or the exam itself is prohibited.

You may insert tabs in the manuals. You are not allowed to put post-it notes within the books.

Altering, whiting out, painting, or printing over pages within the codes books are prohibited.

Before you begin your exam, your exam proctor will have you fan out your pages to ensure there are no loose papers or post-it notes.

Recently, they’ve started to allow digital coding books to be used during exams. In this case, you will not be able to add in any handwritten notes.

Do you take your pages out of the spiral?

Yes - but I do not recommend taking your pages out of your books if you plan on taking an exam.

I take my spiral out of my books in order to write my notes, scan them, and make them available for other to use. If you are planning to take any kind of exam, this is strictly prohibited!

Does writing notes in your books actually help?

Absolutely! Writing notes in your coding books can be a game-changer. Adding key reminders, code pairings, modifier usage, or guideline summaries helps reinforce important concepts and makes it easier to find information quickly. Many coders find that personalized notes improve accuracy and efficiency, especially during exams or real-world coding tasks. Just be sure to follow any exam guidelines if you're planning to take a certification est!

I just started my CPC/CPB course, where should I start?

A great place to start is ICD-10-CM Guidelines. My shop has a listing for
ICD-10-CM Guideline notes, which provide a simplified version of the official guidelines to make them easier to understand. I also have many listings for CPT notes that simplify procedure coding and make it easier to code correctly.

I sell notes for both ICD-10-CM and CPT books. I do not sell any for HCPCS.

How can I access digital files after purchase?

After you purchase a digital file, you will immediately receive a confirmation of purchase along with a link to download your file or folder.

Customers receive a secure link to the file lasting 24 hours after the first download.

Do you provide coding updates and changes?

Yes! I strive to keep my resources up to date with the latest coding changes.

While these study tools and notes are based on the most current coding guidelines, I recommend staying informed through official sources like the AMA, CMS, and AAPC for real-time updates. Be sure to check back regularly for any new materials or revisions!

Will the 2025 notes work for my 2024 books?

For 2025, the American Medical Association (AMA) introduced 420 updates, including 270 new codes, 112 deletions, and 38 revisions. Given these substantial updates, relying on 2025 CPT notes to code procedures performed in 2024 could lead to inaccuracies.

The 2025 notes will apply to ICD-10 codes effective from October 1, 2024. If you're coding for services before that, you should use the 2024 books to ensure accuracy and compliance.

To learn more about the changes made from 2024 to 2025, click here