Medical Coding and Billing
PROGRAM OUTLINE
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 to have
access to the Internet, an email
account, and Microsoft® Office
2007 to complete portions of this
program.
HIT100: Introduction to Allied Health
This course is designed to provide
a discussion of strategies for
completing the allied health programs
as an independent learner. In addition,
it gives an introduction to health
care and the role that medical
office assistants, medical coders,
and medical transcriptionists play
in that industry.
BUS090: Office Procedures
This course covers the typical duties
of the administrative assistant
in any business office: task management,
general business machines, telephone
call management, business letter
writing, electronic and print mail
processing, travel and meeting
planning, policy and procedures
manuals, facility care and maintenance.
HUM106: Interpersonal Communication
Developing more effective personal
communication skills to increase
chances for professional success;
increasing skill levels involving
the use and selection of words,
gestures, tone of voice, facial
expressions, listening skills,
as well as overall physical appearance.
HIT105: Law and Ethics in Medicine
Legal and ethical issues in the delivery
of health care are presented. A
grounding in the parts of tort
and contract law that affect health-care
delivery is set forth along with
broad ideas concerning the functioning
of the legal system. Special attention
is given to confidentiality, privileged
communications, informed consent,
the elements of and defenses against
malpractice, legal and practical
issues commonly encountered by
medical office professionals, end-of-life
and beginning-of-life legal and
ethical issues, and the effect
of managed care on ethical issues
faced by health-care practitioners.
(Required textbook provided with
the course.)
CSC102: Word and Excel
Computer and Internet basics; computer
hardware and software; digital
electronics and file management;
introduction to Windows®; PC
applications in word processing,
spreadsheets.
ENG010: Business English
Business letters, forms, client records,
and memos; organization, grammar,
punctuation, and sentence
and paragraph construction; coherent
paragraphs, well-organized documents,
and purpose-focused materials; accurate,
attractive, and effective final copies.
HIT107: Medical Terminology
The development of a vocabulary used
in medicine by acquiring skills
to pronounce, define, and spell
terms. Students will analyze and
interpret medical reports related
to specific body systems. (Required
textbook provided with the course.)
SCI135: Anatomy and Physiology 1
The anatomy and physiology of the
human body is presented as an integrated
science. Each major body system
is described and analyzed to illustrate
normal function as well as pathology.
Topics include basic biochemical
elements, skin, bones, muscles,
the nervous system, the senses,
and the endocrine system. (Required
textbook provided with the course.)
Prerequisite: Medical Terminology
SCI136: Anatomy and Physiology 2
Anatomy and Physiology 2 (AP2) continues
the introduction to the structure
and function of the human body
that was begun in Anatomy and Physiology
1 (AP1). Like AP1, AP2 uses the
body systems approach and will
cover the cardiovascular, lymphatic/immune,
respiratory, digestive, urinary,
and reproductive systems. AP2 will
also cover special topics such
as pregnancy, human development,
aging, physiology in special environments,
pathophysiology, and genetics.
Prerequisite: Anatomy and Physiology
1
HIT109: Confidentiality of Health
Information
Ethical and legal rules concerning
the confidentiality
of health information is presented
with particular emphasis on the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act. Background material will include
operation of the legal system and
principles of legal liability. (Required
textbook provided with the course.)
Prerequisite: Law and Ethics in Medicine
MAT102: Mathematical Applications
Percentages; discounts; interest;
pricing; depreciation; insurance;
use of symbols and their applications;
equations and formulas; importance
of statistics. (Required textbook
provided with course.)
HIT115: Reimbursement Methodologies
This course is designed to introduce
the allied health professional
to major reimbursement systems
in the United States. Focus is
on prospective payment system,
third party payers, and billing
and insurance procedures. This
course also covers additional information
including prepaid health plans,
fee-for-service methodologies,
chargemasters, fee schedules, and
managed care. (Required textbook
provided with the course.)
HIT203: Medical Coding 1
The basics of coding, exploration
of the ICD-9-CM and CPT manuals,
examination of specialty areas
such as cardiology and obstetrics/gynecology,
radiology, pathology, and laboratory
work. (Required textbook provided
with the course.)
Prerequisite: Medical Terminology
ALH015: Insurance Form Preparation
This course is an introduction to
the process of filing clean claims
using payer-specific rules, and
the importance of information collection
in the claim filing process. (Required
textbook provided with the course.)
Prerequisite: Medical Terminology
HIT113: Medical Information Management
and Office Practice
The development of organization,
record storage, information management,
and office administration skills.
(Required textbook provided with
the course.)
Prerequisite: Insurance Form Preparation
Online Library and Librarian
Students in Penn Foster Career School
have access to an online library for
use during their studies. Students
can use this library to do the required
research in the courses they complete
or can use it for general reference
and links to valuable resources. The
library contains helpful research assistance,
articles, databases, books, and Web
links. A librarian is available to
answer questions on general research-related
topics via email and assist students
in research activities during their
studies with Penn Foster Career School.
A
High School Diploma or GED is required
to enroll in this program.
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