Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, obtaining a received channel-encoded data block having information bits, a transmitted error-check value, and redundant code bits. The redundant code bits correspond to a channel code applied to the received channel-encoded data block prior to transmission via a communication channel. A channel code type is identified and responsive to it being systematic, the information bits and the transmitted error-check value are obtained without decoding according to the channel code. The received channel-encoded data block is checked according to the transmitted error-check value to obtain a result. Responsive to the result not indicating an error, extracting the information bits without decoding the received channel-encoded data block according to the channel code. Responsive to the result indicating an error, decoding the received channel-encoded data block according to the channel code to obtain decoded information bits. Other embodiments are disclosed.