Medical Coding and Billing Professional: Program Launch Guide

Are you a detail-oriented person with interest in healthcare? You could have a future in medical billing.

Medical coders and billers help providers collect reimbursement for the care they provide. Wherever doctors work, coders and billers are needed to complete the cycle.

MedCerts' Medical Coding and Billing Professional program prepares students for this growing and rewarding career.

What To Expect as a Medical Coding and Billing Student

Students can complete MedCerts' Medical Coding and Billing Professional program in seven months or more. The 28-week program contains 448 instructional hours across four courses:

• Professionalism in Allied Health: A review of expectations and skills needed to support providers in the healthcare field

• Introduction to Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology: An overview of the terms students will need to work with healthcare documentation

• Insurance and Billing, and Coding Essentials: An introduction to billing policies, claim submission and the medical revenue cycle

• Medical Coding: A 224-hour course that helps students understand coding guidelines and apply them to medical documentation

As a student in the program, you'll learn about the three most common coding systems – the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), and the current International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10-CM).

What Skills Will You Build?

Students in this program learn to create and code medical bills. Coding is the process of reviewing patient charts and choosing the correct billing code for each procedure or diagnosis. As a student in the coding portion of this program, you'll learn how to find the right information in a chart and choose the most appropriate code.

Billing is the next step. A medical biller creates, submits, and tracks claims to insurance companies. Learning both skills helps you to expand your earning capacity and provide value to a busy medical practice.

What Goals Can You Achieve?

Instructors will focus on building your understanding of each system so you don't need to rely heavily on coding manuals. This helps you become a more efficient biller and coder and a more valuable asset to medical practices.

Once you complete all four courses, you can apply for your Medical Coder and Biller Certification (MCBC).

Who Can Enroll?

The Medical Coding and Billing Professional program is open to anyone 18 or older with a high school diploma or GED.

MedCerts designed this program for students who consider themselves well-organized and detail-focused. Medical coders and billers must be precise in their work and effectively manage many complex tasks.

You don't need previous healthcare or billing experience to enroll, but experienced professionals can benefit. This program can be your first introduction to the medical field or an opportunity to upskill.

Why Consider a Medical Billing and Coding Career?

Experts believe that over the next 10 years, the medical billing and coding industry will add 2.5 million new jobs. Qualified professionals in this industry can earn an average starting salary of $33,000 a year and work almost anywhere in the country.

If you want to make a real difference in patients' and doctors' lives and you believe in doing things right the first time, this could be the career for you. Talk with a MedCerts education consultant today and get started.