Medical Billing and Coding Certificate of Completion (62-64 credits)
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: The Medical Billing and Coding Program is designed for persons interested in becoming medical billers and coders. Medical coders check medical records and notes to assign codes for illnesses, injuries, procedures and diagnoses. Medical billers know insurance plans, regulations, and guidelines. Both use this knowledge to assign codes for preparing insurance claims and preparing invoices. They maintain records in a manner consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, legal, and regulatory requirements of the health care system. CAREER OPPORTUNITIES: Medical billers and coders work in inpatient facilities (hospitals, nursing homes, etc.) and outpatient facilities (clinics, physician offices, ambulatory clinics, etc). Graduates may also be employed by state or federal health agencies, insurance firms, or pharmaceutical companies. PROGRAM OUTCOMES: South Puget Sound Community College believes that all students need to develop a broad range of abilities that will not only make them more effective in their professional pursuits but will enhance their capacity to relate well to others in their daily lives. All college programs support the development of the following college-wide abilities:
⊲ Communicate effectively ⊲ Think logically and critically ⊲ Evaluate and process quantitative and symbolic data ⊲ Understand themselves in relation to others in a multicultural world ⊲ Understand ethical responsibilities and consequences Graduates of SPSCC’s Billing and Coding One Year Certificate Program are prepared to use their skills in critical thinking and data analysis as well as their understanding of relationships and responsibilities to: 1. Demonstrate competencies as a valuable member of the administrative medical office team by accurately performing billing and coding procedures to effectively and efficiently process medical claims 2. Demonstrate professional and ethical behaviors within the medical billing and coding work environment 3. Communicate effectively and professionally electronically, orally, and in writing with peers, clients, and other health care professionals in a diverse interdisciplinary environment PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: All MED courses must be completed with a “C" or better to continue in and complete the program, and no MED courses completed more than 5 years prior to completion of the program will be accepted as part of the program. EXTERNSHIP: Entry into the Medical Billing and Coding Program does not guarantee students a job placement, nor does it guarantee a practicum placement in Thurston County. Practicum placements require successful interviews and background checks. Due to increased competition for practicum placements with other schools in Washington State, South Puget Sound Community College cannot guarantee that the practicum will be in the last quarter of the program or that it will be located within Thurston County.
Core Requirements OFTEC 101 OFTEC 108 BIOL& 175 MED 102 MED 103 MED 104 MED 110 MED 115 MED 120 MED 111 MED 130 MED 169
Keyboarding 1 2 Introduction to Microsoft Office 3 Human Biology with Lab 5 Medical Law, Ethics and Bioethics 2 Medical Terminology I 3 Medical Terminology II 5 Medical Insurance Billing for the Medical Office 5 Diagnostic Coding for the Outpatient Coder 5 CPT Coding for the Outpatient Coder 5 Advanced Diagnostic and CPT Coding 5 Electronic Health Records and Data Entry 6 Medical Billing Externship 3
General Education Requirements Communication: ENGL& 101 English Composition I
5
Computation MATH 101 Technical Mathematics I 5 or any math class listed under the Quantitative Category on the Distribution. Requirements for General Education for the Associate in Arts /Associate in Science direct transfer degrees. Human Relations Choose from General Education AAS list 3-5
South Puget Sound Community College Catalog 2017-2018
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