Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA®) — Requirements & Free Practice

The authority publishes percentage ranges for each content area. The practice percentages below use the midpoint of each range, normalized to 100%; they are not exact percentages published by the authority. Practice question counts may differ slightly because of rounding.

• Data and Information Governance — Official range: 17–20% (Practice allocation: 17.54%)

  • Evaluate the integrity of the health record documentation
  • Apply knowledge necessary to process the required clinical data elements for quality reporting (e.g., facility committees, payers)
  • Understand and apply data dictionary standardization policies
  • Manage documentation and data standards based on organizational policy
  • Complete data analysis to inform management
  • Develop policies and procedures for health record data, documentation management, and information governance
  • Comply with retention and destruction policies for health information
  • Manage the integrity of the master patient index (MPI)
• Compliance with Access, Use, and Disclosure of Health Information — Official range: 15–18% (Practice allocation: 15.64%)

  • Manage patient access to their health information, including use of patient portals
  • Advocate for patients and families in the process of obtaining health information
  • Process health information requests according to legal and regulatory standards
  • Monitor access to protected health information (PHI) internal and external to the organization (e.g., health information exchange (HIE))
  • Develop health information request workflows to comply with legal and regulatory standards
  • Follow breach of information protocols
  • Ensure compliance with privacy and security initiatives (e.g., cyber security, disaster recovery)
• Data Analytics and Informatics — Official range: 23–26% (Practice allocation: 23.22%)

  • Support end users in EHR applications
  • Create reports and visual representations of data
  • Use database management software and techniques (e.g., data mining)
  • Audit documentation using a focused tool (e.g., CDI, quality, safety)
  • Optimize health information and other technologies to improve workflows
  • Support health information exchange solutions
  • Examine software applications and integrations for the impact to health information
  • Understand the information systems development life cycle, including the analysis, design/development, implementation, maintenance, and evaluation phases
  • Validate healthcare statistics for organizational stakeholders
• Revenue Cycle Management — Official range: 20–23% (Practice allocation: 20.38%)

  • Educate providers on various reimbursement models
  • Validate coding accuracy
  • Monitor department of health and human services (HHS) clinical documentation requirements
  • Conduct clinical documentation integrity (CDI) activities in support of revenue and quality improvement initiatives
  • Support the claims management process (e.g., CDM maintenance, DNFB analysis, and A/R management)
  • Assign diagnoses and procedure codes and groupings according to official guidelines
  • Conduct revenue integrity activities (e.g., coding audits, denials management, and fraud prevention)
• Management and Leadership — Official range: 23–26% (Practice allocation: 23.22%)

  • Develop and implement goals and strategies, including change management to support organizational initiatives
  • Demonstrate knowledge of contracting/outsourcing processes
  • Perform human resource management activities (e.g., recruiting staff, creating job descriptions, resolving personnel issues)
  • Perform and oversee work design and process improvement activities
  • Facilitate training and development
  • Prepare and implement budgets
  • Assist with accreditation, licensing, or certification processes
  • Monitor organizational compliance with health laws, regulations, or standards
  • Demonstrate knowledge to lead or facilitate project management