Certification

 

 

Certification in Healthcare Revenue Integrity (CHRI)

NAHRI has launched an easy-to-use online application for our CHRI credential exam and recertification process at chri.simplifycertifications.com. This system allows for timely submission, approval, and payment of certification and recertification applications. As a result of these changes, we are no longer accepting paper applications or payment by check.

Please have your contact information, work and education history, and credit card payment information available when you start the application process. Prior to submitting your application, you must review the CHRI Exam Handbook.

NAHRI members can access our online application with their nahri.org username and password. If you do not have a nahri.org username and password, select the "Register" option on chri.simplifycertifications.com and create a new CHRI application account.

If you have questions about this process, please contact Customer Service at 800-650-6787. 

 

A unique but wide range of knowledge and experience are necessary for revenue integrity professionals, and NAHRI wants to help those in the field demonstrate their expertise in a tangible way—through a new credential created just for you.

Do you need to know your recertification due date or verify an individual's certification? Search our CHRI Directory of Credential Holders. 

Looking for additional guidance on the CHRI exam? View our free webinar presented by the CHRI Credential Committee. 

 

About the CHRI certification

NAHRI is currently accepting applications for the Certification in Healthcare Revenue Integrity (CHRI) credential to provide a trusted baseline of competency for revenue integrity professionals in healthcare settings. 

 

Background for developing CHRI

Healthcare revenue integrity professionals play an integral role in the financial health of their organizations. As this field grows, it is critical to ensure healthcare revenue integrity professionals have a means of demonstrating their competency in core skills relevant to their roles within their organizations. The CHRI credential offers revenue integrity professionals the opportunity to hone and validate their knowledge base while ensuring facilities have a benchmark by which to measure the competency of their staff and to recruit team members who are committed to bringing value to the industry and staying abreast of changes in regulations and best practices. 

 

Who are revenue integrity professionals?

Healthcare revenue integrity professionals play an integral role in the financial health of their organizations. As this field grows, it is critical to ensure healthcare revenue integrity professionals have a means of demonstrating their competency in core skills relevant to their roles within their organizations. The CHRI credential offers revenue integrity professionals the opportunity to hone and validate their knowledge base while ensuring facilities have a benchmark by which to measure the competency of their staff and to recruit team members who are committed to bringing value to the industry and staying abreast of changes in regulations and best practices. 

 

Formation of the CHRI credential committee

The CHRI credential committee originated with a group of experienced NAHRI Advisory Board members and expanded to include NAHRI members from various backgrounds to ensure the CHRI exam outline and content, prerequisites, and recertification requirements meet acceptable industry standards and are properly vetted. 

Committee members include:

April Brown, MSHI, BSN RN, CCM, CRCR; Tracy Cahoon, MBA; Julia Carter, CPAR; Stephanie M. Giberson, MS, CHFP, CRCR, RHIT, FAHIMA; Mary Beth Hauge, MS, RHIA; Ronald Hirsch, MD, FACP, CHCQM; Lisa Kanivetsky, BA, CPC; Rayleen M. Kelly, RN, CCDS, CIC, CRC; Julie Leonard, CPC, CCS, CPCO, CRCR, ACS-AN, RCC; Lisa Longo, CPC, CPC-I; Debbie Mackaman, RHIA, CPCO, CCDS; Rebecca Moore, MSA; Angela A. Musey, RN, MBA, MACC; Debbie Nash, MBA; Lois Nelson, RN, BS; Elaine O’Bleness, MBA, RHIA, CDIP, CHP, CRCR; Valerie Rinkle, MPA; Celeste Rucker, RHIT, CCS; Anna Santoro, MBA, CCS, CCS-P, RCC; Donna Schneider, RN, MBA, CPHQ, CPC-P, CHC, CPCO, CHPC; John D. Settlemyer, MBA, MHA, CPC; Marie Smith; Shannon Uhrmacher, BBA; Donna J. Warwick, BS, CHDA, CCS, CTR; Diane G. Weiss, CPC, CPB, CCP; Meagen Windler-Hacker; Kim Yelton, RHIA, CCS, CDIP.

 

CHRI mission and core competencies

The mission of the CHRI credential is to ensure healthcare revenue integrity professionals are recognized for their due diligence in their field and dedication to professional growth. The CHRI credential can help new and veteran revenue integrity professionals demonstrate knowledge of revenue integrity core competencies. Professionals who earn the CHRI credential have proven their proficiency in rules and regulations, compliance, revenue management, and internal reporting strategies.

The objectives of the CHRI program are as follows:

  • Recognize the valuable contributions and knowledge base of healthcare revenue integrity professionals who have proven competency in revenue integrity subject matter through successful completion of the certification process
  • Promote knowledge of core skills relevant to the revenue integrity field, including mastery of relevant rules and regulations; ability to perform root cause analysis; aptitude for managing denials and appeals; knowledge of monitoring and auditing practices; assurance of accuracy of charge description master pricing structures and codes; understanding of coding, documentation, and billing requirements; and skill to develop internal reporting strategies that identify trends and solve problems
  • Assist healthcare facilities in ensuring staff have the knowledge and experience necessary to perform essential revenue-related job functions and bring value to the organization

 

CHRI exam outline

The CHRI exam is made up of the following four parts:

  1. Education (25%)
  2. Compliance (25%)
  3. Revenue (25%)
  4. Reporting (25%)

CHRI exam candidates are encouraged to refer to our full exam outline to ensure they are prepared for the exam.

Looking for additional guidance on the CHRI exam? View our free webinar presented by the CHRI Credential Committee. 

If you are looking for the latest in revenue integrity education, NAHRI recommends using one or more of the following:

Please note the aforementioned resources were not intentionally developed to mirror the CHRI exam outline, but can prove helpful in staying up to date on content relevant to the revenue integrity profession. 

To ensure candidates understand the latest regulatory guidance, the CHRI Credential Committee recommends familiarity with the following:

  • The Federal Register
  • OIG guidance
  • Medicare Internet-Only Manuals
  • CMS Conditions of Participation
  • ICD-10-CM/PCS coding book
  • CPT® coding book
  • HCPCS Level II coding book
  • Official UB-04 Data Specifications Manual
  • National Coverage Determinations
  • NCCI Policy Manual
  • NUBC and NUCC Claims Manuals

 

Program requirements

The CHRI credential is designed to test an applicant’s knowledge of revenue integrity in the areas of education, compliance, revenue, and reporting. Credential holders demonstrate expertise in core competencies of revenue integrity and meet requirements related to education and experience relevant to the field.

 

Passing score

The exam consists of 140 questions, of which 120 are scored and 20 are pre-test questions. The passing score is 86 correct out of 120 scored questions.

 

CHRI prerequisites

Candidates who apply for the examination must meet one of the following sets of requirements:

  1. One or more year(s) of experience in healthcare revenue cycle, coding, compliance, or revenue integrity and a bachelor’s degree OR
  2. Two or more years of experience in healthcare revenue cycle, coding, compliance, or revenue integrity and an associate’s degree OR
  3. Three or more years of experience in healthcare revenue cycle, coding, compliance, or revenue integrity in the absence of a degree
     

How to apply to take the CHRI exam

 

NAHRI has launched a new, easy-to-use online application for our CHRI credential exam and recertification process at chri.simplifycertifications.com. This system allows for timely submission, approval, and payment of certification and recertification applications. As a result of these changes, we are no longer accepting paper applications or payment by check. 

Please have your contact information, work and education history, and credit card payment information available when you start the application process. If you have questions about this process, please contact Customer Service at 800-650-6787. 

Please have your education and work history information available prior to starting your application. If you don’t have that available and save a draft of the first page, you will receive an email from us with a link back to the application. In order to complete the application, you will need to click the “Start CHRI Application button again. Don’t worry, all the information you did enter will be prefilled, all you will need to do is complete the rest of Page 1 and proceed to Page 2 of the application.

Prior to submitting your application, you must review the CHRI Exam Handbook. Once you are approved to sit for the exam, you will receive an email confirmation and will then have 90 days to schedule and take your exam. 

Visit our store for details. 

 

Examination fee

The fee for the certification application process and examination is $255 for NAHRI members and $355 for non-members. Payment may be made by credit card, personal check, or money order payable to HCPro. While fees are non-refundable, payment will be returned if the application is not approved.

Visit our store for more information.

 

Apply to re-take the examination after failing

If a candidate fails the exam, they may take it again after waiting 90 days from the date of the failed exam. NAHRI will discount the exam fee to $125 for the first retake only. Subsequent attempts to pass the exam will be at full price. If you have already applied for and taken the CHRI exam but did not pass and wish to sit for the exam, please complete and return our CHRI Re-Examination Application through our forthcoming online application system. Prior to submitting your application, you must review the CHRI Exam Handbook. Once you are approved to sit for the exam, you will receive an email confirmation and will then have 90 days to schedule and take your exam. 

Visit our store for more information.

 

Recertification

NAHRI has launched a new, easy-to-use online application for our CHRI credential exam and recertification process at chri.simplifycertifications.com. This system allows for timely submission, approval, and payment of certification and recertification applications. As a result of these changes, we are no longer accepting paper applications or payment by check. 

Please have your contact information, work and education history, and credit card payment information available when you start the application process. If you have questions about this process, please contact Customer Service at 800-650-6787. 

The CHRI recertification process ensures that credential holders stay up-to-date on education and regulatory changes relevant to their field. Individuals who hold the CHRI credential must apply for recertification every two years on the anniversary date they passed the CHRI exam, which can be found on the individual’s CHRI certificate.

CHRI credential holders must submit a recertification application with proof of earning 30 CEUs relevant to the healthcare revenue integrity field—15 of these CEUs must be obtained from NAHRI or HCPro educational offerings. All CEUs must be approved prior to the training event. CEUs may not be applied for after an event under any circumstances.

All CEUs issued by HCPro and NAHRI are accepted for recertification. Individuals may submit no more than 10 CEUs for a single activity from another accredited agency or organization such as AAPC, AHIMA, NASBA, AAHAM, and HCCA. Please note this is not an exhaustive list. We accept a number of CEUs from various accredited agencies and organizations as we understand there are numerous ways for revenue integrity professionals to continue their education through educational activities that speak to their areas of expertise.

Only CEU activities completed after a candidate passes the CHRI exam may be submitted for recertification. CEUs must be earned during the two-year period when the certification is valid. Additional CEUs do not carry over to the next renewal period.

Although NAHRI strongly recommends submitting 30 CEUs by the two-year exam anniversary date, CHRI certification holders are extended a 45-day grace period to submit their CEUs. Failure to submit CEUs in a timely manner may result in penalties, late fees, and eventual revocation of the CHRI credential. A former credential holder may recertify by reapplying for and successfully passing the CHRI exam.

A percentage of applicants will be audited to ensure that they have met the CEU requirements. Recertification candidates should keep a record of participation in all their CEU qualifying activities in the event of an audit.

There are many ways you can obtain the 30 CEUs required for CHRI recertification through NAHRI membership benefits and other activities. Download our documentation on Earning Your CHRI Continuing Education Units for more information. The fee for recertification is $100 for NAHRI members and $200 for non-members.

 

CHRI CEUs

Fees for third-party vendors and facilities looking to obtain CHRI CEUs for a program, event, or facility are as follows:

  • For non-profit: $75 for 1 to 5 CEUs, $15 for each additional CEU
  • For profit: $150 for 1 to 5 CEUs, $30 for each additional CEU

CHRI CEU approval applications are forthcoming. 

 

Request consideration for special accommodations

To request special accommodations, please complete the Request for Special Examination Accommodations form and submit with the exam application. Prior to submitting the exam application, you must review the CHRI Exam Handbook.