Medical Billing & Coding

Medical billing and coding professionals keep records, calculate patient charges and review files. Duties include: reviewing records; calculating charges for a patient's procedure and service and preparing itemized statements and submitting claims to third party payers.  Medical Coders are responsible for the collection of physician charges and patient data to ensure that claims are submitted to insurance carriers accurately and in the most efficient and expeditious manner. Additionally, Medical Coders determine codes for physician procedures and diagnosis - using ICD-10 and CPT-4 coding protocols - for third party billing purposes. This course offers the skills needed to solve insurance billing problems, how to manually file claims (using the CPT and ICD-10 manual), complete common insurance forms, trace delinquent claims (EOB's) and use generic forms (CMS 1500) to streamline billing procedures. The course covers the following areas: CPT (introduction, guidelines, evaluation and management), specialty fields (such as surgery, radiology and laboratory), ICD-10 (introduction and guidelines) and basic claims process for medical insurance and third party reimbursement.  Students will learn how to find the service codes using coding manuals, (CPT & ICD-10).  This program includes 80 hours of classroom lecture and CPR training.  High school diploma or GED required.

NOTE: Certain National Medical Coding Certification exams are very complex and may require six months to two years of suggested practical coding experience prior to taking the exam or being recognized as a certified medical coding professional. After obtaining the suggested practical work experience, students who complete this course could be qualified to sit for the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) - Certified Professional Coder Exam (CPC or CPC-H - Apprentice); the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam; and/or other National Certification Exams.