Medical Billing and Coding (Voucher Included)

Become a Certified Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

Medical billing and coding is one of the fastest growing work-from-home careers in the healthcare field! This 100% online course will prepare you for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Coding Associate (CCA), or Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). You’ll learn how to use the Healthcare Common procedure Coding System (HCPCS) and the CPT Category II and ICD-10 codes. 

A woman sitting in front of a computer with medical records on it.

Job Outlook for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical billing and coding specialists earn an average annual salary of $40,350 and work in one of the fastest growing professions.

The BLS also estimates that at least 27,000 new jobs will be needed in this profession by 2026.

Course Objectives

Learn how the CPT Category II codes and ICD-10 codes work and how to assign them in common medical billing and coding procedures.

Be fully prepared to sit for the CPC, CCA, or CBCS exam, offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders.

Prerequisites and Requirements

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Instructors

Nancy Smith

Nancy Smith has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. EHR clinical experience includes working as a medical assistant for a network of rural health clinics, and as a medical coder, insurance claims specialist, and medical records auditor. She worked as a medical office manager for ten years, where she recruited and trained all medical assistants. Nancy holds a bachelor's degree in vocational education and has developed and taught medical assistant programs.

LaTisha Cottingham

LaTisha Cottingham has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She has six years of teaching experience in the field of medical billing and coding and Medical Assisting. Currently she is employed as an HIM Analyst for a long-term care establishment that is based out of Alabama.

Carline Dalgleish

Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems, a master's degree in Leadership, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Health Information Management. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator and an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Dalgleish is the author of an ICD-10 coding system and owns her own consulting firm, AnnGrant Educational Services.

Lydia S. Stewart, RN, BSN

Lydia S. Stewart, RN, BSN, currently serves as the Revenue Cycle Manager at a large regional medical center. Lydia has been a Registered Nurse for 23 years, 15 of those years specializing in Critical Care Nursing and supervision. She is responsible for Medical Audits, Charge Capture, and governmental compliance audits and reviews. Lydia is a member of the Louisiana Medical Auditor Association and Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).

Bunny Reeves

Bunny Reeves is the senior ambulatory surgery coder at the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She trains student coders at Maimonides Medical Center and previously trained and supervised entry-level coders at Staten Island's St. Vincent Medical Center. Reeves is a Certified Coding Specialist, accredited by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Sharon L. Blackford, MA, BA, RMA

Sharon L. Blackford, MA, BA, RMA, has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. She has a Master's degree in Organizational Management, a Bachelor's degree in Business Management, and has served as a Registered Medical Assistant since 1994. Sharon was an active duty Clinical Specialist in the U.S. Army for 10 years. Sharon later moved to the Gulf Coast to accept a position as the Director of Education of Blue Cliff College and was promoted to Campus Director.

Stacey O'Brian

Stacey O'Brien has more than 10 years of experience in medical coding and reimbursement. Ms. O'Brien has been a risk adjustment coder for a Medicare advantage plan, audited medical records for a consulting firm, and currently supervises the coding and electronic claims submission process for a group medical practice. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a CPC coding certification from the AAPC.

Medical Billing and Coding FAQs

  • Medical coders translate patient care into current procedural terminology (CPT) codes. Their primary responsibility is to ensure that the medical services provided are accurately coded. Medical billers are responsible for creating a claim based on the codes a medical coder provides.

  • Entry-level positions typically require completion of a certificate or an associate degree program in medical billing and coding. Additionally, medical billing and coding professionals must understand the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

  • In most cases, it takes between one and three years to become a medical biller and coder. Earning a medical billing and coding certification can take up to one year. While earning an associate degree can take up to three years.

  • Yes. However, this will vary depending on the healthcare organization that one works for and their level of experience within the medical billing and coding profession.

  • U.S. News and World Report ranked medical records technician (professionals that perform medical billing, medical coding or both) as #9 on its list of “25 Best Jobs that Don’t Require a College Degree," #12 in “Best Health Care Support Jobs” and on the “The 100 Best Jobs” list.

    1. Medical Terminology
      1. Introduction to Medical Terminology
      2. The Musculoskeletal System
      3. The Cardiovascular System
      4. The Lymphatic and Immune Systems
      5. The Respiratory System
      6. The Digestive System
      7. The Urinary System
      8. The Nervous System
      9. The Special Senses The Eyes and Ears
      10. The Integumentary System
      11. The Endocrine System
      12. The Reproductive System
      13. Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, Pharmacology
    2. Medical Billing and Coding
      1. Introduction to Medical Billing and Coding
        1. Career Opportunities
        2. Personal and Technical Qualifications
        3. Employment Settings
        4. Telecommunications
        5. Professional Certifications
      2. Introduction to Health Insurance
        1. Health Insurance Terminology
        2. Commercial and Government Payers
        3. Healthcare Documentation
        4. Electronic Health Record
      3. Managed Healthcare
        1. Types of Reimbursement
        2. Managed Care Providers
        3. Managed Care Models
        4. Consumer-Directed Health Plans
      4. Revenue Cycle Management
        1. Phases of Revenue Cycle Management
        2. Encounter Form, Chargemaster
        3. Insurance Claim Cycle
        4. New Patient Registration
        5. Collection Practices
      5. Legal Aspects of Health Insurance and Reimbursement
        1. Laws Affecting Healthcare
        2. Protected Health Information
        3. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
        4. Fraud and Abuse in Medical Billing and Coding
        5. Release of Information
      6. VI. ICD-10-CM Coding
        1. Overview of ICD-10-CM
        2. Key Features
        3. Organization of the Codebook
        4. Index to Diseases and Injuries
        5. Tabular List of Diseases and Injuries
        6. Coding Conventions
        7. Official Guidelines
      7. CPT Coding
        1. Overview of Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS)
        2. Category I, Category II, and Category III Codes
        3. Organization of the Codebook
        4. Main CPT Sections
        5. Evaluation and Management
        6. Anesthesia
        7. Surgery
        8. Radiology
        9. Pathology and Laboratory
        10. Medicine
        11. Code Modifiers
      8. HCPCS Level II Coding
        1. Overview of HCPCS Level II
        2. Organization of the Codebook
        3. Durable Medical Equipment
      9. ICD-10-PCS Coding
        1. Overview of ICD-10-PCS
        2. Code Structure
        3. Definitions
        4. Index
        5. Code Tables
        6. Coding Steps
      10. Pharmacology for Coders
        1. Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics
        2. Routes of Administration
        3. Drug Classifications
        4. Prescription Drugs and Over-the-Counter Drugs
        5. Controlled Substances
        6. Medication Lists and the Electronic Health Record
      11. Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI)
        1. Deficiencies in Documentation
        2. Medical Necessity
        3. Auditing
        4. Coding From Patient Documentation
      12. Insurance Claims
        1. National Uniform Claim Committee
        2. CMS-1500 Claim Form
        3. Patient and Insured Information
        4. Physician or Supplier Information
        5. UB-04 Claim Form
      13. Commercial Insurance
        1. Individual/Group Health Insurance, Automobile, Disability, Liability, Workers' Compensation
        2. Completing Commercial Health Insurance Claims
      14. Blue Cross Blue Shield
        1. History of BCBS
        2. Types of BCBS Plans
        3. Participating/Nonparticipating Providers
        4. BCBS Billing and Payment Guidelines
      15. Medicare
        1. Medicare Eligibility
        2. Medicare Part A, B, C, and D
        3. National Coverage Determinations/Local Coverage Determinations
        4. Participating/Nonparticipating Providers
        5. Physician Fee Schedule
        6. Medicare Billing and Payment Guidelines/NCCI
      16. Medicaid, CHIP, TRICARE, Workers' Compensation
        1. Medicaid
        2. Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
        3. TRICARE
        4. Workers' Compensation
      17. Certification
        1. Selecting the Right Certification
        2. Study Strategies for the Certification Exam
        3. Prior to the Exam
        4. Morning of the Exam
        5. During the Exam
      18. How to Find a Job in Medical Billing and Coding
        1. Formulating Your Career Goals
        2. What Employers Want
        3. Showcasing Your Skills
        4. Resume Tips
        5. Cover Letter Tips
        6. Interview Questions
    3. FINAL