Medical Billing and Coding (240 hours)

Course Overview/Description

This nationally recognized Medical Billing and Coding online training certificate program is designed to prepare students to fill positions for medical coding and billing professionals. Skilled medical billing and coding technicians are in high demand these days! In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in medical tests, treatments, and procedures that will be increasingly scrutinized by health insurance companies, regulators, courts, and consumers. Also, patient information must be entered into computer databases to comply with new Federal legislation requiring the use of electronic patient records. Finally, health care facilities are having difficulty attracting qualified workers, mostly because of the lack of both formal training programs and sufficient resources to provide on-the-job training for coders.

All of these factors have combined to create a huge potential job market for qualified medical records technicians, and this course will provide you with the skill set and expertise that will make you irresistible to prospective health care employers. Upon successful completion of the Medical Billing and Coding course, students will be prepared for an entry-level position doing medical billing or coding in a medical office setting and will be prepared to sit for the CCA national certification exam.

Some typical tasks for the Medical Billing/Coding Professional include:

1. Registering of patient information.
2. Performing insurance verification, pre-authorization and referral tasks.
3. Preparing and posting transactions on day sheets, charge tickets and patient accounts.
4. Coding and billing insurance claims.
5. Collecting patient payments and performing collection activities.

Please Note: This course prepares you for the CCA certification. You must also meet the Professional Association's Eligibility Requirements for the examination. The American Health Information Management Association's (AHIMA) eligibility requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent. This online Medical Billing and coding course is only offered in partnership with major Colleges and Universities.

Want to develop your skills even further? Check out our Administrative Medical Specialist with Medical Billing and Coding course!

Upon registering, you are given an initial six months to complete the program. Should you need more time, you may request a 6-month extension at no additional charge.

Course Objectives

 

Upon successful completion of the Medical Billing and Coding program, students will:

• Be proficient in skills such as medical terminology, communication, telephone techniques, organization and time management.
• Have knowledge of Medical Practice Settings and Specialties, as well as the differences in Traditional and Managed Care. Students also learn about Commercial, HMO/PPO, Federal and State insurance plans, including eligibility and coverage, as well as reimbursement methodologies.
• Have knowledge of the legal and ethical responsibilities of an administrative medical specialist, including the HIPAA mandates, the rules for maintaining privacy of medical records and protected health information, and the types of consents and disclosures that are required in a medical office environment.
• Be able to perform tasks associated with the entire Accounts Receivable and Revenue cycle, including registration of patients, posting of accounting transactions, completion of insurance claim forms, and collections.
• Be able to perform the day-to-day tasks associated with medical coding, medical billing and completing insurance forms.
• Be prepared to take an Advanced Coding course to prepare for more advanced national certifications.

Course Outline

Module 1 - Introduction to Healthcare

• Various professions and opportunities
• Medical Specialties

Module 2 - Compliance, Law, & Ethics

• HIPAA
• CMS Regulations
• Medical Ethics

Module 3 - Medical Terminology

• Essential Information for Learning by This Quick and Easy Method
• Writing Terms with Suffixes and Combing Forms
• Writing Terms with Prefixes, Suffixes, and Combining Forms
• Diagnostic Procedures and Therapeutic Interventions
• Organization of the Body
• The Musculoskeletal System
• The Circulatory System
• The Respiratory System
• The Digestive System
• The Urinary System
• The Reproductive System
• The Integumentary System
• The Nervous System and Psychologic Disorders
• The Endocrine System

Module 4 - Diagnostic Coding

• The ICD-9-CM Manual
  • Federal Law Regarding Use
  • Primary Diagnosis vs. Principal Diagnosis
  • Organization
    • Volume I: Tabular Index
    • Volume II: Alphabetic Index to Disease
  • Conventions
  • Main Terms
  • Notes
  • Tables
  • 4th and 5th Digit Modifiers
  • V Codes
  • E Codes
• Chapter Descriptions
  • Infectious and Parasitic Diseases (001-139)
  • Neoplasms (140-239)
  • Endocrine, Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases, and Immunity Diseases (240-279)
  • Diseases of the Blood and Blood-Forming Organs (280-289)
  • Mental Disorders (290-319)
  • Diseases of the Nervous System and Sense Organs (320-389)
  • Circulatory System (390-459)
  • Respiratory System (450-519)
  • Digestive System (520-579)
  • Genitourinary System (580-629)
  • Complications of Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Puerperium (630-677)
  • Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (680-709)
  • Diseases of the Mucoskeletal System and Connective Tissue (710-739)
  • Congenital Anomalies (740-759)
  • Conditions in the Perinatal Period (760-779)
  • Symptoms, Signs and Ill-Defined Conditions (780-799)
  • Injury and Poisoning (800-999)
  Module 5 - Procedural Coding
  • What is Coding?
  • The CPT Manual Layout
    • CPT Main Index
    • CPT Main Index Format and Conventions
    • CPT Appendices & Addendums
    • CPT Alphabetical Index
  • Steps for Procedural Coding
    • Using the Alpha Index to Search
    • Coding Steps
    • Code Modifiers
  • CPT Main Index Sections
    • Evaluation and Management
      • Evaluation and Management Categories
      • Most Commonly Used E&M Categories
      • Levels of Service
    • Anesthesia
    • Surgery
      • Surgical Packages
        • Surgery - Integumentary
        • Multiple Laceration Repair
        • Surgery - Musculoskeletal System
        • Surgery - Respiratory System
        • Surgery - Cardiovascular System
        • Surgery - Hemic: Lymphatic, Mediastimum and Diaphragm
        • Surgery - Digestive System
        • Surgery - Urinary System
        • Surgery - Male Genital System
        • Surgery - Intersex, Laparoscopy, Femal Genital and Maternity
        • Surgery - Endocrine and Nervous Systems
        • Surgery - Eye and Ocular Adnexa
        • Surgery - Auditory System
      • Radiology Section
      • Pathology and Laboratory
      • Medicine
      • HCPCS Level II
        • HCPCS Sections
        • HCPCS Modifiers
    Module 6 - Insurance Billing
    • Industry basics
    • CMS-1500 Claim Form
    • UB-92 Claim Form
    • Electronic Filing & Remittance
    • Reimbursement
    Module 7 - Patient Billing and Collections
    • Processes
    • Rules & regulations
    Module 8 - CCA Prep

Prerequisites/Audience

Students should be proficient in keyboarding, have a basic understanding of a word-processing computer program (Microsoft Word recommended), and have a command of English grammar and punctuation. No healthcare or medical office work experience is required.

The target audience for this program is individuals interested in learning job skills for medical office opportunities, changing job skills to become medical office assistants, or changing job skills to become medical coders.

Please Note: This course prepares you for the CCA certification. You must also meet the Professional Association's Eligibility Requirements for the examination. The American Health Information Management Association's (AHIMA) eligibility requirement is a high school diploma or equivalent.

PC Requirements/Materials Included

This course is compatible with Windows Vista Operating System.

The Medical Billing and Coding online course must be taken from an IBM Compatible (PC) computer running Windows 98 or any later version with a CD ROM drive. Students need to have access to a word-processing program like Microsoft Word or Works. Students must have internet access. While the program will work from a dial-up connection, high-speed Internet access (like DSL or Cable) is recommended. A Macintosh computer will not work for this course.

With this program, students will receive the following materials:

• A Guide to Health Insurance Billing
• Quick and Easy Medical Terminology
• Professional Review Guide for the CCA Examination
• Merriam-Webster’s Medical Desk Dictionary
• 2007 CPT-4
• 2007 ICD-9-CM
• Medical Abbreviations
• Practice Insurance Claim Forms

Instructor Bio

Patrick Rush:

Patrick currently serves as the Director of Patient Accounting/Managed Care Coordinator at the Key-Whitman Eye Center in Dallas, Texas, and has held that position for nine years. His responsibilities include all aspects of billing and collections for this multi-subspecialty Ophthalmology practice. He negotiates and maintains all insurance company, third-party administrator and managed care network contracts for his five employed physicians, as well as an Ambulatory Surgery Center, Laser Suite and Durable Medical Supply Company. Mr. Rush manages a knowledgeable staff which consistently produces well above expectations.

Mr. Rush is a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant, Ophthalmic Coding Specialist, Certified Medical Office Manager and Certified Medical Insurance Specialist. His involvement with the Texas Ophthalmological Association and the American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives has allowed him to serve as a consultant to several physicians in the areas of coding, billing/collections, and contracting.

Carline Dalgleish:

Carline Dalgleish has been employed in the business office management profession since 1970. She began in the Medical Records department of the Army/Air Force Hospital in Nuremberg, Germany and has, over the years, performed accounts receivable and business office management services for physicians, clinics, and hospitals, as well as the Healthcare Financing Administration (now CMS). She has real-time experience in administrative and financial departments, as well as management experience in business office administration, regulatory compliance, information technology and services. In addition, she has created the curriculum for and instructed accounts receivable and accounts payable educational programs.

In the early 90's, Ms. Dalgleish moved full-time into curriculum development, teaching and management of business and allied health education programs, with special emphasis on business office administration and management.

Ms. Dalgleish is a Certified Medical Assistant-Administrative, a licensed practical nurse, and holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems. She is currently working on her Master's degree in Leadership.

She is a member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAB), the National Dean's Scholars List, AHIMA, PAHCOM, AAMA, AAPC, CCST, AAMT and AMTIE. She currently owns and operates COUGAR-Ed.net, which specializes in curriculum development and delivery of continuing education products, seminars and services.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

1. How do I register?
Click on the register button at the top of the page and follow the directions. It is important that you type all your information in the boxes, then print it out to sign.  Payment and sending instructions are in the bottom right corner of the form.

2. How much do the courses cost?
The fee is in the pink box at the top of the page.

3. Can I register for courses if I live outside the United States?
Yes you can!

4. Do I ever have go to the school I register with?
All of our courses are delivered entirely online, so you never have to go to a class or travel to the school.

5. How long does it take to complete a course?
All of our courses are self-paced and open enrollment. You can start and finish the course at your own pace. When you register for a course, you are given 180 days (6 months) to complete the course. If you need more time, extensions are available.

6. Do I have to buy additional materials?
All materials are included. The cost of materials is covered by your tuition. GES ships all materials via UPS ground service upon registration.

7. Can I get financial aid?
GES courses are non-credit courses, so they do not qualify for federal aid. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses.

• GES provides a loan opportunity for students. Simply go to www.collegeloanapplication.com to apply for an easier qualifying loan at a slightly higher rate. Click here for more information on this loan program.

8. What happens when I complete the course?
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school with which you registered. You must obtain a final passing grade of 70% or greater to be awarded a certificate.

9. Am I guaranteed a job?
GES courses will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. We do not provide direct job placement services, but our instructors will help you build your resume and are available to give advice on finding your first job. Instructors will also be available to use as a professional reference upon completion of the course. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

10. Who will be my instructor?
Each student is paired with a facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available (via email or phone) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our facilitators are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach.

11. What do I have to have in order to take an online course, and what are the system requirements?
In order to take our online courses, you must have access to a computer and the Internet (a normal dial-up connection is fine). You can access the course contents from any Web-enabled computer. There are no necessary plug-ins. You do not have to use the same computer to log-in to the course every time. We recommend that you have a word-processing program (Microsoft Word is best) and the latest version of Internet Explorer.

12. Can this course be taken on a Mac?
Yes.

13. How can I get more information on the course?
All of the information we have is available online under our course catalog (www.gatlineducation.com). If you have questions that are not answered online, please feel free to email us at courseinfo@gatlineducation.com or call 817-870-2870. We will answer your questions promptly.

14. When can I start the course?
Our courses are all open enrollment. You can register and start the course as soon as you are ready.

15. What is the difference between Medical Billing and Coding, and Administrative Medical Specialist with Medical Billing and Coding?
Medical Billing and Coding is designed as an entry-level course focusing exclusively on medical billing and coding. Administrative Medical Specialist with Medical Billing and Coding includes the entire Medical Billing and Coding course, plus additional modules focusing on administrative duties. Administrative Medical Specialist with Medical Billing and Coding also includes an at-home version of Medisoft medical billing software, along with instructional training for using this software. Administrative Medical Specialist with Medical Billing and Coding will not only train you in medical billing and coding, but also prepare you for a wider variety of occupations, including medical front desk and administrative duties.