A medical billing and coding program provides the necessary knowledge and skills to ensure that patients receive the benefits they are entitled to while healthcare facilities get paid for their services. You will learn how to fill out billing forms, process insurance claims, and properly code medical records. Under the guidance of instructors with experience in the healthcare field, you will also receive training on industry software to streamline the billing process, learn how to electronically access and update medical records, and gain experience with industry diagnostic manuals. Some of the courses you may study in a medical billing and coding program include:
Fundamentals of Medical Terminology
No matter what job you have in healthcare, it helps to speak the same language as other medical professionals. In a medical terminology class, you will learn the basic medical terms to facilitate communication with doctors, nurses, and patients. This also helps you understand the various health issues that need to be coded into medical records.
Insurance Billing and Bookkeeping
If you have no prior experience with accounting, this course will teach you the basics. You will learn how to use a 10-key or the numerical side of the keyboard to solve math problems. You will develop a quick pace for performing simple calculations and become proficient in recording financial transactions. This course also shows you how to reconcile bank statements, use charge slips, and apply bookkeeping principles to daily tasks.
Electronic Health Records
Patient medical records are managed digitally, known as electronic health records (EHRs). This course introduces you to what EHRs are and how to use them. You will learn how to accurately update EHRs with codes that inform insurance companies about the treatments and procedures that need coverage. You will also learn how to comply with privacy laws and the fundamentals of electronic claim submission.
Institutional Billing, Coding, and Reimbursement
This course teaches you how to fill out forms that reimburse healthcare institutions through Medicare. You will learn about medical revenue codes, major diagnostic categories, and electronic clearinghouses. You will also learn how to locate and code diagnostic code sequences and identify other hospital departments that need to fill out the forms.
Computerized Billing and Coding
A computerized billing and coding course helps you become familiar with the software programs most commonly used by billers and coders to update EHRs and file and track insurance claims. You will also learn about EHR management, coding principles, and activities that take place in a medical front office.
Medical Insurance Processing and Coding
As a medical coder, one of the most important tools you will use is the ICD-10. This manual includes codes for every symptom, diagnosis, injury, medical procedure, and treatment you can think of. You don’t need to memorize it all, but you will need to know the more commonly used codes. In this course, you will be introduced to the ICD-10 and learn how to code diagnostic and professional services provided by the physician.
Insurance Claims Processing
This course helps you develop the skills necessary to file and process an insurance claim. You will learn how to use software to input claims data and document actions taken in the payment system. Since insurance claims need to be accurate and free of errors, you can expect to complete a special claims project that will give you real-world experience with room to learn from your mistakes.
Medical Insurance Billing and Coding
After learning about billing and coding separately, you can bring your newfound knowledge into a combined billing and coding course. Here, you will learn about major insurance companies, government-sponsored health systems, and how managed care systems operate. You will also delve into the bookkeeping processes used in real health systems and how procedural and diagnostic coding systems are utilized in insurance claims processing and submission.
Legal and Ethical Issues in Healthcare
To work in healthcare, you must understand the legal and ethical issues professionals face in the workplace. In medical billing and coding, you will explore laws and regulations regarding medical record-keeping and patient confidentiality. You will also learn about the legal responsibilities of healthcare personnel and patients’ rights.
After completing these courses, you will be well prepared for a career in healthcare.
