Certified Medical Biller and Coder

A Medical Billing and Coding Specialist is the MVP of any healthcare organization. They are responsible for processing patient data such as treatment records and related insurance information, coding patient’s diagnosis, and requesting payment from insurance companies. Without these specialist healthcare providers would not receive compensation for their valuable services. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for certified medical coders will increase 22 percent through the year 2022 making this the fastest growing healthcare career. The 2016 median income for a certified medical coder was between $29,360-$51,850, this varies depending on location and experience level.
What’s in this program? This program consists of four individual courses, Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Terminology, Anatomy & Physiology, and ICD-10. Each of these courses will provide the knowledge and skills required to be successful in the billing and coding field. In this complete program learners will learn a basic knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy & physiology, how to process insurance claims, how to complete insurance forms, trace claims, appeal denied claims, proper coding using CPT, ICD-10, and HCPCS, and the organization and use of the provided coding manuals.
Included Certification! Included with this program is the exam exam voucher for the American Academy of Professional Coders’ (AAPC) Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Certification Exam. Learners also receive one year membership to the AAPC and the recommended CPT, ICD, and HSPCS manuals (included manuals are AAPC approved for use during the certification exam).
**To obtain for the CPC exam candidates must have at least two years medical coding experience. Those who pass the CPC exam but do not have the required experience will be designated as an Apprentice (CPC-A) on their certificate.** To remove your apprentice designation via on-the-job experience, you must obtain and submit two letters of recommendation verifying at least two years of on-the-job experience. OR Submit proof showing completion of at least 80 contact hours of a coding preparation course AND one letter, on letterhead, signed from your employer verifying one year of on-the-job experience.

A Medical Billing and Coding Specialist is the MVP of any healthcare organization. They are responsible for processing patient data such as treatment records and related insurance information, coding patient’s diagnosis, and requesting payment from insurance companies. Without these specialist healthcare providers would not receive compensation for their valuable services. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for certified medical coders will increase 22 percent through the year 2022 making this the fastest growing healthcare career. The 2016 median income for a certified medical coder was between $29,360-$51,850, this varies depending on location and experience level.

This program, offered by our accredited school partners, consists of four individual courses, Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Terminology, Anatomy & Physiology, and ICD-10. Each of these courses will provide the knowledge and skills required to be successful in the billing and coding field. In this complete program learners will learn a basic knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy & physiology, how to process insurance claims, how to complete insurance forms, trace claims, appeal denied claims, proper coding using CPT, ICD-10, and HCPCS, and the organization and use of the provided coding manuals.

Included Certification! Included with this program is the exam voucher for the American Academy of Professional Coders’ (AAPC) Certified Professional Coder (CPC) Certification Exam. Learners also receive one year membership to the AAPC and the recommended CPT, ICD, and HSPCS manuals (included manuals are AAPC approved for use during the certification exam).
**To sit for the CPC exam candidates must have at least two years medical coding experience. Those who pass the CPC exam but do not have the required experience will be designated as an Apprentice (CPC-A) on their certificate.** To remove your apprentice designation via on-the-job experience, you must obtain and submit two letters of recommendation verifying at least two years of on-the-job experience. OR Submit proof showing completion of at least 80 contact hours of a coding preparation course AND one letter, on letterhead, signed from your employer verifying one year of on-the-job experience.

Summary: Fastest growing career, amazing salary, and fantastic included features! Enroll through one of our accredited university or college partners today!

Module 1: Healthcare Fundamentals
• The History of Healthcare
• Healthcare Etiquette
• Professional Situations and Applications

Module 2: Communication in Healthcare
• Healthcare Teams
• Team Success
• Champions

Module 3: Medical Documentation and Record Keeping: HIPAA
• Use and Disclosure
• Real Life Scenarios
• HIPAA Laws, Policies, and Requirements

Module 4: Medical Terminology
• Word Structure
• Prefix, Root Word, and Suffix
• Organization of the Body
• Diagnostic Testing and Radiology

Module 5: Anatomy & Physiology
• Anatomy and Physiology Basics
• Musculoskeletal, Integumentary, and Respiratory Systems
• Digestive, Reproductive, and Urinary Systems
• Blood and the Cardiovascular System
• Lymphatic, Immune, and Endocrine Systems
• Nervous and Sensory Systems
• Medical Billing and Coding Anatomy & Terminology

Module 6: Soft Skills
• Teamwork & Patient Service in Healthcare
• Critical Thinking Skills in Healthcare

Module 7: Being a Medical Coder
• Benefits and advantages of being a medical coder
• Different industry certifications offered through AHIMA and AAPC
• Advantages of AHIMA and AAPC membership
• Career advantages of obtaining an industry certification

Module 8: Medical Coding: CPT
• Integumentary, Musculoskeletal, Respiratory Systems
• Cardiovascular, Digestive, Endocrine, Nervous Systems
• Anesthesia, Pathology, Radiology
• Evaluation Management, Medicine, HCPCS Modifiers

Module 9: Medical Coding: ICD-10
• Structure
• General Guidelines
• Chapter Guidelines Part I
• Chapter Guidelines Part II
• Practice Scenarios

Module 10: Medical Billing and Reimbursement
• Billing and Reimbursement
• Health Insurance Basics
• Claims
• Accounts, Collections, and Banking

Module 11: The Evolution of CPT and ICD
• The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)
• Updates to the coding systems
• Most important changes that impact primary care coding
• The International Classification of Diseases

Module 12: Legal Standards
• Medical Regulations Governing Legal & Ethical Standards
• Applying Medico-Legal Principles to PHI

All required reference materials are provided with this program. Technical requirements:

Internet Connection
• Broadband or High-Speed (DSL, Cable, Wireless)
Hardware Requirements
• Processor - 2GHz Processor or Higher
• Memory - 1 GB RAM Minimum Recommended

Software Requirements
• Operating Systems - Windows 7, 8 or 10; Mac OS x 10 or higher
• Microsoft Office 2007, 2010 or 2013 or a Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx)
• Internet Browsers - Google Chrome is highly recommended
• Cookies MUST be enabled
• Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled)
• Adobe PDF Reader

After completing this program students will be prepared to sit for the AAPC's Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam. Included in the program tuition is a voucher for the certification exam, and one year membership fee to AAPC, as well as the recommended CPT, ICD, and HSPCS manuals (included manuals are AAPC approved for use during the certification exam).
The CPC examination consists of questions regarding the correct application of ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes used for billing professional medical services to insurance companies. Examinees must also demonstrate knowledge on proper modifier use, coding guidelines and regulatory rules.
A CPC must have at least two years medical coding experience (member's with an apprentice designation are not required to have two years medical coding experience.) Membership is required to be renewed annually and 36 Continuing Education Units (CEU's) must be submitted every two years for verification and authentication of expertise.
Due to the level of expertise required of medical coders, AAPC expects certified coders to be able to perform not only in an exam setting but also in the real world. In addition to passing the certification exam, coders will also be required to demonstrate on-the-job coding experience. Those who pass the CPC exam but have not yet met this requirement will be designated as an Apprentice (CPC-A) on their certificate.
CPC-A Status: Members with an Apprentice designation are still required to submit annual CEUs while completing the coding job requirement.
Each state may have additional licensing requirements, be sure to research your states requirements for employment by visiting your states occupation board.

This class is an independent-study course. Students will have all the resources needed to successfully complete the course within the online material. A student helpdesk is available for technical support during the course enrollment.