Medical Reimbursement & Coding Associate Degree

This course is an introduction to the writing process and the formulation of appropriate workplace communication, as well as the essentials of essay writing. Instruction in effective academic and career reading strategies are introduced, along with basic information literacy skills to retrieve, evaluate, and appropriately use the ideas of others.

This course introduces students to the electronic health record (EHR) and its application in maintaining and retaining patient data. Reliability, accuracy, completeness, and validity of digital health information will be emphasized. Healthcare stakeholders, delivery forces, laws, policies, and standards will be discussed to help students understand the importance of ensuring confidentiality, exchange, privacy, security, access and disclosure.

This course introduces students to the basic use of computer hardware and software, electronic communication, and the Internet. Students will develop and utilize their technical knowledge, skills, and abilities in working with office technology in order to efficiently perform tasks and complete projects for contemporary academic, professional, and personal use. Students will apply fundamental theoretical, analytical, and problem solving strategies to advance their understanding of computer literacy.

This course will help students learn and apply concepts relating to various workplace situations. Learners will gain a fundamental understanding of the connectivity across course disciplines that incorporate numerical calculations, ratios, proportions, percent, measurement, algebraic concepts, and the ability to visually communicate numerical information.

This course provides an introduction to reimbursement methodologies and clinical coding systems used in healthcare. Students will explore the common insurance programs and methods for submitting healthcare claims. Payer regulations, revenue cycle tools, and electronic billing processes will also be covered, along with HIPAA, state, and federal regulations and compliance practices across healthcare settings.

This course covers diagnostic coding utilizing the clinical ICD-10-CM classification system.u00a0 Students will learn how to accurately assign diagnosis codes utilizing both manual and electronic applications.u00a0 Topics will also include ICD-10-CM characteristics and format and official coding guidelines and conventions.

This course features the basics of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS Level II) clinical classification systems and outpatient/physician office reimbursement methodologies.u00a0 The use and maintenance of electronic applications and work processes supporting classification and coding are also covered.u00a0 Topics include the assignment of procedure codes, evaluation of accurate procedural groupings, interpretation of relevant regulations and coding guidelines, validation of coding accuracy by comparison of health records, and examination of reimbursement systems.

This course covers procedural coding for utilizing the ICD-10-PCS classification system and reimbursement methodologies.u00a0 Students will learn how to build an ICD-10-PCS procedure code using coding tables as well as an encoder.u00a0 Topics will also include ICD-10-PCS organization and structure and official coding guidelines and conventions.u00a0 Students will also prepare for the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) examination.

This course provides an overview of documentation reporting in healthcare settings. The integrity and quality of clinical documentation is discussed as it relates to data collection, analysis, and presentation. Additional topics will include the analysis and display of data for quality assurance, utilization review, risk management, and reimbursement.

This course is focused on the advanced application of the ICD-10-CM classification systems. Application-based assignments will be utilized to allow students to demonstrate advanced knowledge of coding conventions, coding principles, and official coding guidelines. Students will use relevant patient information from case studies to assign codes to diagnosis statements and generate physician queries. Coding characteristics, conventions, and guidelines will be applied in identifying and accurately assigning codes to diseases and conditions.

This course is focused on the advanced application of CPT and HCPCS Level II classification systems. Application-based assignments will be utilized to allow students to demonstrate advanced knowledge of coding conventions, coding principles, and official coding guidelines. Students will use relevant patient information from case studies to assign codes to diagnosis/procedure statements and generate physician queries. Coding characteristics, conventions, and guidelines will be applied in identifying and accurately assigning codes to diseases, conditions, and procedures.

This course involves the study of the evaluation and management services (E/M) clinical classification system for physician/patient encounters. The use and maintenance of electronic applications and work processes supporting classification and coding are discussed. Topics include the assignment of E/M codes based on physician and outpatient encounters, the interpretation of relevant regulations and coding guidelines, and the validation of coding accuracy by comparison with the health record. A working knowledge of E/M coding will be obtained to ensure optimal compliance with current rules and regulations.

This course is designed to provide students the opportunity to utilize the knowledge and skills developed throughout the program in a supervised authentic coding practicum experience or a simulated virtual environment. This is an opportunity for students to demonstrate coding competency to professional standards of accuracy, productivity, and reporting. Students will evaluate the accuracy and completeness of the patient record as defined by policy, regulations, and standards, and summarize findings to share with stakeholders. Additionally, students will prepare to sit for the AHIMA Certified Coding Specialist - Physician-based (CCS-Pu00ae) certification exam, which assesses mastery-level proficiency in coding.

This course introduces students to the basic tenets of the communication process and the necessity of effective communication in order to achieve academic, professional (career), social, and personal goals. Students will consider factors which influence the achievement of those goals for academic, professional (career), social, and personal success, as well as for the creation of productive learning communities and students' transformation into agile, lifelong learners.

In this course, students are instructed in the various rhetorical modes of academic essay writing, including informative, persuasive, and research-based papers. In addition to academic writing, students are introduced to oral presentations. Students learn to examine the purpose and audience of written and oral communications and craft appropriate messages. Students will also refine their revising and proofreading skills.

This course is an introduction to medical terminology and the vernacular commonly used in healthcare professions. The focus is for students to build a working vocabulary based on each body systems' location, function, organs, and common diseases. Essential to healthcare communications, students will be evaluated on correct usage, spelling, and pronunciation of terms.

This course provides an overview to the anatomical structures and physiology of the human body. Each body system is studied, including their respective organs, structures, and functions. Students will assess how each system participates in homeostasis of the body.

This course focuses on the disease processes that occur in body systems and the related health management of these conditions, as well as the basic concepts of clinical pharmacology for students entering a health care profession. Fundamental concepts and processes of human diseases, such as inflammation, infection, degeneration, congenital and genetic disorders, immune deficiency, and autoimmune disorders, will be explored. Students will also study the clinical manifestations that accompany these conditions. Additionally, core concepts of pharmacology, including terminology and abbreviations, are introduced. Students will learn about drug regulations, consumer safety, and sources and effects of drugs. Medication preparation, systems of measurement, and principles of drug administration are also covered.

This course helps students develop quantitative literacy skills for personal and professional lives. Students will use reasoning and mathematical methods to find solutions to real-world problems. Students will use algebraic, financial, proportional, probabilistic, and statistical methods to draw conclusions and/or make decisions.

In this course students will review career development theory as it relates to the decision- making and planning processes. Students will consider their competencies and behaviors when searching for internship and career entry positions. Learners will process feedback on their self-marketing techniques and input regarding career development practices.