Certificate programs for those interested in working in the billing and coding field will includes a one year program that can be found through vocational schools, online universities or community colleges. The medical coding classes included can vary depending on the institution and the billing and coding organization they are accredited by. Here we will take a look at the medical billing and coding classes involved and the clinical programs offered.
Core Classes for the Medical Coder for Certificate Programs
These certificate programs will provide a student with the overall understanding of the duties they can expect to perform when working in a medical facility. The student will learn how to schedule appointments, transcribe medical records and physician orders, bill patients and how to correspond with medical personnel and insurance companies.
Classes offered in this type of program will cover such topics as medical procedures, terminology used in the medical field, intro to health management, ICD coding systems, basic principles of disease, anatomy, physiology, ambulatory coding systems, advanced coding systems, physician coding and professional practice experience.
In these classes the student will learn how they can transform a medical procedure and treatments provided into shorthand code that is used to communicate with insurance carriers for record keeping and billing purposes. They will also learn about different coding technologies, keyboarding and software programs commonly used in this field. These programs are designed to prepare the student for entry level positions in a variety of medical facilities and will also prepare the student to take the certified professional coder exam once the program has been completed.
How These Programs Work: How to Know They’re Accredited
You can choose to enroll in an online program, in-class program or a blended program. There are several online programs for medical billing available; however, the student will need to ensure the program is accredited by the AAPC prior to making an academic commitment. Some of these programs will advertise these classes as a way to interest individuals that want to work from home. Ten years ago it was common for medical billers and coders to work from a home office, however these days it’s almost impossible to find a medical facility that will hire off site coders.
Be wary of coder courses that focus their program advertisement as a way to be self-employed, these schools usually do not offer accredited AAPC programs, meaning you could waste a couple of thousand dollars on an education that will not qualify you for the field.
An easy way to ensure a program teaches an approved coding course is to check the AAPC’s website where you’ll find listings of accredited programs by state or learning institution.
