Are you looking to start a rewarding career in healthcare? The Medical Billing and Coding program at Ashworth College, accessible through www.ashworthcollege.edu career-diplomas medical-billing-coding, offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to equip you with the essential skills and knowledge needed to excel in this in-demand field. This program meticulously teaches you how to accurately apply medical codes for diagnoses and treatments, a highly specialized skill sought after by medical facilities across the United States. Upon graduation, you’ll be thoroughly prepared to confidently take the certification exam and embark on your new career.
Orientation: Learning at Ashworth
Your journey begins with Orientation: Learning at Ashworth. This foundational course is designed to integrate you into the Ashworth College learning environment. You’ll delve into the core values and objectives of Ashworth College, learning crucial time management techniques, and crafting a realistic study schedule that fits your life. Understanding assessments is key, so you’ll explore their nature and purpose, learn effective online study strategies, and develop vital skills for success in today’s digital age.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Identify and cultivate the skills necessary to thrive as a confident and independent online learner.
Lesson Group 1: Introduction to Allied Health
The next step is Lesson Group 1: Introduction to Allied Health. This course provides a broad overview of the healthcare landscape. You’ll gain insights into the structure of the healthcare industry in the United States and the diverse roles played by healthcare professionals within it.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Differentiate between the wide array of allied health professions available, helping you understand your potential career paths.
- Describe the critical legal and ethical considerations that healthcare workers encounter in a medical facility setting.
Lesson Group 2: Law, Ethics, and Confidentiality in Allied Health
Building upon the ethical foundation, Lesson Group 2: Law, Ethics, and Confidentiality in Allied Health delves deeper into the legal framework governing healthcare. You’ll learn how laws impact healthcare practitioners, the origins of these laws, and the process of litigation and its alternatives. Crucially, you’ll understand the common-law basis for patient confidentiality and regulations governing healthcare information managed by government agencies.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Interpret the civil and criminal laws that directly relate to healthcare practices and patient rights.
- Assess the complex ethical dilemmas that healthcare professionals face in contemporary healthcare environments.
- Analyze the laws and regulations designed to protect patient confidentiality and sensitive health information.
Lesson Group 3: Medical Billing and Health Insurance
Lesson Group 3: Medical Billing and Health Insurance is central to your specialization. This course introduces you to the intricate world of healthcare reimbursement. You’ll explore various reimbursement processes and methodologies, such as fee-for-service and episode-of-care models. Key aspects like payment systems, fee schedules, chargemasters, coding fundamentals, and internal audit processes are also covered. Furthermore, you will gain a solid understanding of health insurance fundamentals and the different types of health insurance plans.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Discuss and compare various reimbursement methodologies and payment systems used in healthcare billing.
- Define health insurance and explain its role in the healthcare system.
Lesson Group 4: Medical Office Procedures
Lesson Group 4: Medical Office Procedures focuses on the practical skills needed in a medical office. This course is designed to help you develop essential professional workplace relationships and master office communication and administrative procedures. You’ll also refresh basic math skills and receive an introduction to Microsoft Word and Excel, tools essential for office administration.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Solve calculations involving whole numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages, deductions, interest, and measurement conversions, crucial for billing accuracy.
- Recognize the parts of speech and understand basic grammar for effective written communication.
- Explain effective communication strategies for in-person, telephone, email, and mail (both domestic and international) in a professional office environment.
- Describe how to perform basic functions in Microsoft Word and Excel, essential software in medical offices.
Lesson Group 5: Body Systems and Terminology 1
Moving into the medical specifics, Lesson Group 5: Body Systems and Terminology 1 initiates your understanding of the human body. This course familiarizes you with various body systems, introducing medical terms, structure, function, diseases, disorders, and treatments. You’ll also begin exploring drug delivery systems, administration routes, classifications, and common medications for organ system disorders.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Explain how to construct, define, and analyze medical terms, building a robust medical vocabulary.
- Define terms and abbreviations associated with the cardiovascular, hematologic, respiratory, endocrine, gastrointestinal, urinary, and reproductive systems.
Lesson Group 6: Body Systems and Terminology 2
Lesson Group 6: Body Systems and Terminology 2 continues your exploration of body systems and pharmacology. You’ll further learn about drug delivery systems, administration routes, drug classifications, and medications for various organ system disorders. This course also introduces basic medication calculations, storage, patient administration assistance, and proper documentation – vital for patient safety and accurate records.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Recognize and utilize terminology associated with the integumentary, musculoskeletal, nervous system, and sensory organs.
- Identify the characteristics of immune system diseases and their treatments.
Lesson Group 7: Pathology and Pharmacology
Lesson Group 7: Pathology and Pharmacology deepens your understanding of disease and drug actions. You’ll learn about the four subdivisions of pharmacology and different drug classifications, including vitamins and minerals. Crucially, you’ll explore the causes of infectious diseases and techniques to prevent their spread. Finally, you’ll review the etiology of common diseases and conditions affecting various body systems.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe the process of interpreting, documenting, and administering medication orders accurately and safely.
- Differentiate between types of drugs, their purposes, potential interactions, and adverse reactions.
- Describe how pathogens cause infections, their modes of transmission, and methods for infection control.
- Identify common diseases and conditions that affect different body systems, enhancing your diagnostic coding skills.
Lesson Group 8: Electronic Medical Records
Lesson Group 8: Electronic Medical Records brings you into the digital age of healthcare. This course is designed to help you understand the reimbursement process within the context of electronic health records (EHRs). You’ll be introduced to billing cycles and how health information technology is applied in medical offices. You’ll also learn basic accounting transaction terminology and apply this knowledge to manage patient charges and payments within EHR systems.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe the components of an Electronic Health Record and understand security, privacy, and confidentiality practices related to medical records.
- Explain the administrative and clinical roles in a medical office and the EHR functions routinely used in these roles.
- Describe the complete billing and reimbursement process within an EHR environment.
- Practice completing simulated health records using electronic health record software, gaining hands-on experience.
Lesson Group 9: Basic Medical Coding
Lesson Group 9: Basic Medical Coding marks the beginning of your specialized coding training. This course provides an overview of fundamental coding concepts, terms, and procedures. You’ll start by exploring the history of the ICD-10 coding system, a cornerstone of medical coding. You’ll learn to code diagnoses using the ICD-10-CM and apply chapter-specific guidelines for coding diseases and conditions with unique rules. The course concludes with an introduction to coding procedures in ICD-10-PCS and the basics of ICD-10 coding overall.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe the structure and purpose of the ICD-10-CM coding manual, your primary coding reference.
- Explain how to effectively use the ICD-10-CM manual to assign accurate codes for medical diagnoses.
- Summarize the coding guidelines for physiologic conditions affecting different organ systems.
- Identify the purpose of the ICD-10-PCS and understand its application in coding procedures.
- Assign both diagnosis and procedure codes using the ICD-10 coding manuals, building practical coding skills.
Lesson Group 10: Intermediate Medical Coding
Lesson Group 10: Intermediate Medical Coding advances your coding expertise. This course focuses on coding procedures and their related body systems in greater detail. You’ll also learn about general coding guidelines for outpatient procedures and physician office coding using CPT, HCPCS Level I, and HCPCS Level II procedure coding systems – essential for professional medical coding.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Assign codes for a wide range of services and procedures using CPT and HCPCS Level II coding manuals.
- Outline the specific procedure for assigning codes from the Evaluation and Management (E/M) and Anesthesia sections of the CPT manual.
- Outline the various types of services and procedures comprehensively described within the CPT manual.
- Explain the types of procedures coded within the hemic, lymphatic, digestive, reproductive, and urogenital systems.
- Describe the procedures coded in the endocrine, nervous, ocular, auditory, radiology, pathology, and medicine sections of the CPT manual, covering a broad spectrum of medical specialties.
- Accurately assign CPT and HCPCS codes for physician procedures and services, refining your coding accuracy and speed.
Lesson Group 11: Billing and Coding Professional Certification Exam Review
The final step before launching your career is Lesson Group 11: Billing and Coding Professional Certification Exam Review. This crucial course is specifically designed to prepare you to sit for a professional coding certification exam. You’ll comprehensively review all exam domains and take practice coding exams to simulate the actual exam experience, building your confidence and test-taking skills.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe the anatomy, terminology, and pathophysiology of various body systems, reinforcing your medical knowledge base.
- Summarize the common challenges associated with medical billing and reimbursement processes in healthcare.
- Explain effective strategies to prevent billing and reimbursement issues, ensuring efficient revenue cycles in medical practices.
- Code rendered services accurately and efficiently using the CPT manual under exam conditions.
- Explain the proper use of HCPCS codes in various medical billing scenarios.
- Code diagnoses accurately using the ICD-10-CM manual in a timed exam setting.
- Successfully complete practice certification exams, demonstrating your readiness for professional certification.
Medical Billing & Coding Program Description
The Medical Billing and Coding certificate program offered at www.ashworthcollege.edu career-diplomas medical-billing-coding is meticulously designed to provide you with a robust understanding of the skills essential for successful careers in medical billing and coding. You’ll become well-versed in reimbursement methodologies and best practices concerning law, ethics, confidentiality, communication, electronic medical records, and medical coding itself. The program includes a thorough review of medical terminology related to body systems, pharmacology, and pathology, all culminating in preparation for the Billing and Coding Professional Certification Exam.
NOTE: Ashworth College supports your career goals by covering the cost of the CBCS exam within the program tuition. Candidates for both the CBCS and CCA certifications must have a High School diploma or equivalent. For specific requirements, including membership and application details, please refer to the certifying agencies: CBCS, CPC®, CCA®.
Medical Billing & Coding Learning Objectives
Upon completion of the Medical Billing and Coding program at www.ashworthcollege.edu career-diplomas medical-billing-coding, you will be able to:
- Outline the typical responsibilities of a medical biller and coder, understand the personal and professional ethics crucial for success, and explore the diverse career opportunities available to qualified professionals.
- Develop a strong foundation in medical terminology and apply this knowledge to accurately identify and describe body planes, anatomical directions, and the major structures, functions, and pathologies of all human body systems.
- Understand the purpose and impact of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and stay informed about evolving laws and regulations affecting healthcare professionals.
- Compare and contrast major government and commercial insurance health plans, including Medicare, Medicaid, HMOs, PPOs, and POS plans, essential for navigating the complexities of healthcare billing.
- Describe typical billing guidelines for various medical procedures including inpatient medical, inpatient/outpatient global surgery, medical/surgical, and minor surgical procedures.
- Summarize the complete lifecycle of a typical insurance claim and understand each processing step required before submission to insurance companies.
- Explain the fundamental purpose of medical coding and accurately code diagnoses and procedures using industry-standard coding systems from WHO and AMA.
- Accurately assign ICD-10-CM/PCS, CPT, and HCPCS codes for diagnoses, procedures, and medical services as a core skill in the insurance reimbursement process.
Decoding Your Career Path
The Career Diploma program in Medical Billing and Coding at Ashworth College, reachable through www.ashworthcollege.edu career-diplomas medical-billing-coding, is structured to build your confidence and help you achieve your career aspirations. Job search preparation is integrated directly into your studies. Utilize the online tools available through the Ashworth College Central Network to gain step-by-step guidance in creating polished, professional resumes and cover letters. As a graduate, you retain access to your Ashworth College Central Network account, allowing you to revisit these valuable career tools whenever you need to make a strong impression on potential employers. Discover more about these resources on the Career Services page.
