Facility Billing and Coding
The course is designed for individuals who are already familiar with medical terminology and coding (both ICD-9-CM and CPT), who want to take their career to the next level. We will use encoder software supplied by industry leader 3M to learn diagnosis grouping, sequencing and DRG assignment. We will also use the encoder to learn outpatient facility APC assignment. Prerequisite: Completion of a Medical Billing Coding course or a minimum of one year experience in Medical Billing and Coding.
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Medical Billing and Coding
The Certificate Program teaches entry-level skills essential for employment in a variety of medical offices. The course will cover basic knowledge of Medical Terminology, CPT (introduction, guidelines, evaluation and Management), specialty fields (such as surgery, radiology and laboratory), ICD-9 (introduction and guidelines) and basic claims processing for medical insurance and third party reimbursements and how to find the service and codes using manuals, (CPT, ICD-9 and HCPCS). Upon successful completion, students should be able to sit for their certification exam, and will be prepared for entry-level employment in medical offices, hospitals, clinics, skilled-care facilities and insurance companies.
Employment outlook is expected to increase by 18 percent through 2016 due to the rapid growth in the number of medical tests, treatments, and procedures that will be increasingly scrutinized by health insurance companies, regulators, courts, and consumers. New jobs are expected in doctor’s offices, especially in large group practices, home healthcare services, outpatient care centers, nursing and residential care facilities, hospitals, medical clinics, pharmacies, rehabilitation centers, insurance companies, accounting offices, legal offices, and consulting firms. Coders identify and appropriately bill every single medical service that has been provided to the patient. The nature of this field can lend itself to alternative work schedules such as part-time and at-home work.
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) 2008 Salary Survey reported that the average salary range for most coders range is $39,400 to $46,500. A physician office Coder earns, on average, $40,400 annually and a facility based coder earns, on average, $44,700. Median salaries for billing and coding range between $35,999 and $44,562 annually, according to Salary.com, as of November, 2008.
Program description for Medical Billing and Coding Certificate.
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Reimbursement Technology: Medical Insurance Theory and Practice
The Program will add practical experience to your medical billing and coding knowledge. It is designed to build on your knowledge of medical insurance as well as ICD-9-CM, CPT, and HCPCS. Students will use the Medisoft Advanced Patient Accounting system, the most widely used physician practice management program, to explore medical billing and accounts receivable in detail. Using a step by step approach, students will learn to enter patient demographic data, post harges and bill insurance companies; post payments from patients and third party payers, and create and print patient statements. By creating and changing appointments as well as creating management reports, students will gain a complete overview of the inner workings of a physician practice. This course will provide the background and hands-on experience needed to secure a position in the rapidly expanding medical billing field. Prerequisite: Completion of a Medical Billing Coding course or a minimum of one year experience in Medical Billing and Coding.
