Program Outline
Here's how it works:Your program consists of courses designed to take you step-by-step through the knowledge and skills you'll employ in your new career in Medical Billing and Coding. As soon as your enrollment has been accepted, you will gain access to your student learning portal and you can begin your program right away.
Computer Specifications
As you know this is an online academic program. This means you will need access to high-speed internet to begin your program. In addition, you will need access to a Microsoft® Windows® based computer running Windows® 10 or later, Microsoft® Office 2019 or Microsoft 365®, and an email account to complete this program.
Program Goal and Outcomes
Program Goal: To prepare students for an entry-level career in Medical Billing & Coding.
Program Outcomes:
- Apply CPT, ICD-10, and HCPCS coding guidelines to identify diagnoses, procedures, and patient medical records
- Identify the procedures for patient record retrieval and reimbursement
- Explain the role of a medical coder as a liaison between the health clinician and billing offices
- Apply computer and information literacy skills using electronic health records software
- Identify terms, facts, methods, procedures, concepts, theories, principles, and processes within medical billing and coding scenarios
- Classify relationships among data and items within medical billing and coding scenarios
- Recognize laws and theories, including issues relating to ethics and confidentiality
- Calculate solutions to mathematical problems related to reimbursement and medical mathematics
- Interpret information to make proper coding decisions
- Review basic written and workplace communication skills
HIT100: Introduction to Allied Health
In this course, you’ll develop the necessary skills to ensure your success in the program. You'll learn how you can improve your study skills, so you're able to use a number of tools that will help you to be successful. You'll then learn about the healthcare professions involved in the United States healthcare system. You'll learn about their common tasks, where they typically work, and how each role contributes to the patient experience. You'll then discover the hard and soft skills required across different healthcare professional roles. The course ends with an overview of the United States healthcare system. You'll examine the different levels of patient care, the differences between public and private healthcare, how facilities bill for services, and how laws and regulations govern healthcare practices.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Identify skills needed to be a confident and independent online learner
- Explain the standard knowledge and skills required in healthcare careers
BUS090: Medical Office Procedures
This course is designed to help you develop professional relationships in the workplace and professionally administer and manage office communications and procedures. It also provides a review of basic math operations, along with a basic introduction to working with Word and Excel.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Apply knowledge of basic arithmetic skills to complete math related tasks in an office setting
- Identify how to create professional business correspondences
- Recognize effective communication techniques in an office setting
- Describe how to use Word and Excel to complete business related tasks
ALH016: Body Systems and Medical Terminology 1
This course will familiarize you with various body systems including medical terms, structure, function, diseases, disorders, and treatments. You’ll also learn drug delivery systems, drug administration routes, drug classifications, and commonly used medications for various organ system disorders.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Define medical terms and regions and structures of the body by analyzing medical terms
- Identify the anatomy, physiology, diseases, and treatments of the cardiovascular and hematologic systems
- Identify the anatomy, physiology, diseases, and treatments of the respiratory and endocrine systems
- Identify the anatomy, physiology, diseases, and treatments of the gastrointestinal, urinary, and reproductive systems
ALH017: Body Systems and Medical Terminology 2
This course is a continuation of Body Systems and Medical Terminology 1. You’ll continue to learn about various body systems, drug delivery systems, drug administration routes, drug classifications, and commonly used medications for various organ system disorders. You’ll also learn basic medication calculations, storage, how to assist patients with administration, and proper documentation.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Identify the anatomy, physiology, and diseases and treatments of the integumentary and musculoskeletal systems
- Identify the anatomy, physiology, and diseases and treatments of the sensory and nervous systems
- Identify the anatomy, physiology, and diseases and treatments of the immune system
ALH021: Pathology and Pharmacology
This course describes healthcare professionals who can identify the four subdivisions of pharmacology and different drug classifications, including vitamins and minerals. Pathology and Pharmacology will also prepare you to explain the causes of infectious disease and techniques used to stop its spread. Finally, you’ll review the basic etiology of common diseases and conditions.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe four subdivisions of pharmacology: pharma codynamics, pharmacokinetics, pharmaco-therapeutics, and toxicology
- Identify different drug classifications, including vitamins and minerals, which a patient may take for a variety of health conditions
- Explain causes of infection, disease, and techniques used to stop the spread of infectious disease
- Explain basic etiology of common diseases and conditions
HIT130: Electronic Medical Records
This course is designed to help you understand the reimbursement process and the various methodologies involved. You’ll be introduced to billing cycles and how health information technology is used in medical offices, and learn about basic accounting transaction terminology and apply this information to enter patient charges and payments.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe the contents of the Electronic Health Record and security, privacy, and confidentiality practices associated with medical records
- Explain the administrative and clinical roles in the medical office and functions within the EHR that are utilized routinely in these roles
- Describe the billing and reimbursement process
- Complete simulated health records in practice electronic health record software
ALH029: Medical Billing and Health Insurance
This course introduces the reimbursement process and the various methodologies involved, such as fee-for-service and episode-of-care methodologies. The course also covers important information regarding payment systems, fee schedules, chargemasters, coding, and the internal audit process. The course also explains the fundamentals of health insurance and types of health insurance.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Discuss various reimbursement methodologies and payment systems
- Define health insurance
ALH028: Law, Ethics, and Confidentiality in Allied Health
In this course, you’ll learn how law affects healthcare practitioners, the origin of law that affects medical professionals, the basics of the process of litigation and its alternatives, the common-law basis for the confidentiality of healthcare information, and the laws regulating healthcare information collected and maintained by government agencies.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Interpret civil and criminal laws related to healthcare
- Assess ethical issues healthcare professionals face today
- Analyze confidentiality laws and regulations
HIT203: Basic Medical Coding
Your first coding course begins with an overview of coding concepts, terms, and procedures. You’ll start by exploring the history of the ICD-10 coding system. You’ll code diagnoses in the ICD-10-CM and use the chapter-specific coding guidelines to code diseases and conditions with specific and unique rules. You’ll finish your course with coding procedures in the ICD-10-PCS, and in the basics of coding with ICD-10.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe the layout and purpose of the ICD-10-CM coding manual
- Explain how to use the ICD-10-CM to assign codes for medical diagnoses
- Summarize the guidelines for coding physiologic conditions involving different organ systems
- Identify the purpose of the ICD-10-PCS and how it’s used
- Assign diagnosis and procedure codes using the ICD-10 coding manuals
HIT204: Intermediate Medical Coding
In this course, you’ll concentrate on procedures and their associated systems. 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.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Assign codes for services and procedures using CPT and HCPCS Level II
- Outline the procedure for assigning codes from the E/M and Anesthesia sections of CPT
- Outline the types of services and procedures described in the CPT
- Explain the types of procedures coded in 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
- Assign CPT and HCPCS codes for physician procedures and services
HIT215: Billing and Coding Professional Certification Exam Review
This course will prepare you to sit for a certification exam to become a professional coder. You’ll review all of the domains that will be covered on the exam, and you’ll take practice coding exams to simulate the exam-taking experience.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Describe the anatomy, terminology, and pathophysiology of various body systems
- Summarize the challenges associated with medical billing and reimbursement
- Explain how to prevent billing and reimbursement issues
- Code diagnoses using the ICD-10-CM manual
- Explain the use of HCPCS codes
- Code rendered services using the CPT manual
- Complete practice certification exams
Online Library and Librarian
Students in Penn Foster College 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 to assist students in research activities during their studies with Penn Foster College International.
We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.
Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.
Apple, Mac, and macOS are trademarks of Apple, Inc. registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.