Medical Coding and Billing

Here's how it works: Your program consists of courses designed to take you step-by-step through the techniques and skills you'll employ in your new career in Medical Coding and Billing. Your first course will be sent to you as soon as your enrollment has been accepted. Other courses will follow as you complete your exams, so that you will always have training materials to work with.

You will need access to a computer to complete this program. Penn Foster recommends the following as minimum specifications: Pentium® II or better processor, using Microsoft® Windows® XP or later. You will also need Internet access, an email account, and access to Microsoft® Office 2007 to complete portions of this program.

Instruction Set 1

• Learning Strategies
  • The advantages of learning at home; types of study materials; types of examinations; accessing and using the features of our website; determining what kind of learner you are; establishing a study schedule; using study tips; preparing for and taking examinations.
• Introduction to Medical Coding
  • An introduction to the medical coding profession; necessary job skills; places of employment; professional associations and certifications

Instruction Set 2

• Medical Insurance
  • The medical insurance industry; different types of insurance available.
• Time and Stress Management
  • Changing attitudes toward time- and self-management; practical strategies for incorporating such changes in studies and on the job.
• Written Communication 1
  • Parts of speech; sentence structure; common grammatical errors

Instruction Set 3

• Written Communication 2
  • Styles of writing; appropriate terminology for business correspondence; letter styles; reports.
• Written Communication 3
  • Using a dictionary and thesaurus; synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms; commonly confused words

Instruction Set 4

• Interpersonal Communications
  • Reception of and interaction with patients; scheduling appointments.
• Law, Ethics, and Medicine
  • Laws and ethical considerations pertaining to the medical profession; confidentiality of information; codes of behavior.
• Supplement: Improve Your Communication Skills

Instruction Set 5

• Practices in Medical Law and Ethics
  • Types of patient information that can be released, and to whom.
• Introduction to Medical Terminology
  • Introduction to common medical terminology; terms associated with the human body.
• Textbook: Law, Liability, and Ethics for Medical Professionals

Instruction Set 6

• Body Systems Terminology 1
  • Digestive, urinary and reproductive systems.
• Body Systems Terminology 2
  • Skeletal, muscular, nervous, and sensory systems.

Instruction Set 7

• Body Systems Terminology 3
  • Endocrine and circulatory system; terminology and abbreviations related to each.
• Body Systems Terminology 4
  • Respiratory and circulatory system.
• Advanced Terminology and Pharmacology
  • Medical terminology as it relates to radiology and surgery;common dosages and administration of common drugs.

Instruction Set 8

• Medical Filing
  • Numeric filing, alphabetic filing, cross referencing, color coding.
• Records Management
  • Purpose and content of the health care record; laws and ethics related to ownership of health care documents.
• Textbook: Medical Filing

Instruction Set 9

• Math for Office Professionals
  • Fundamental mathematics operations often used in the workplace.
• Financial Management
  • Accounts payable/accounts receivable; accounting systems for the medical office.

Instruction Set 10

• PC Basics
  • The fundamentals of PC use, including facts about hardware, software, and computer operations.
• Keyboarding and Word Processing
  • Developing familiarity with the keyboard along with speed and accuracy.
• Textbook: Keyboarding and Word Processing
• Software: Keyboarding Pro

Instruction Set 11

• Advanced Word Processing
  • Developing expertise with Microsoft® Word.
• Internet Basics
  • Developing familiarity with the online environment, the Internet and the World Wide Web.
• Textbook: Advanced Word Processing

Instruction Set 12

• Medical Coding, Part 1
  • International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) coding; general coding guidelines; introduction to Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Health Care Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes.
• Medical Coding, Part 2
  • Current Procedural Technology (CPT) and Health Care Procedural Coding System (HCPCS) codes.
• Textbooks:
  • Understanding Medical Coding
  • Coding Workbook
• Learning Aids:
  • CPT4 Reference Manual
  • ICD-9-CM Reference Manual

Instruction Set 13

• Insurance Form Preparation
  • Medical forms; form procedures and policies; form preparation.
• Textbook: Insurance Form Preparation
• Work Experience Option

Upon graduation you will receive:

• Textbook: Starting Your Own Medical Billing Business
  

Note: The graduation shipment will be sent to you when all program requirements and financial obligations have been met.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.

A Secondary School or High School Diploma, or equivalent is required to enroll in this program.

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