Diploma
Changing government regulations and the growth of managed care have increased the amount of paperwork involved in processing medical tests, treating patients, and filing claims with insurance companies. As a result, medical billing and coding specialists are in high demand in all types of health care facilities. If you pay close attention to details, work well under pressure, and would like to pursue a career in health care, earning a diploma in medical billing and coding from Kaplan College could help get you started in one of today's fast-growing career fields.*
Our program can give you the opportunity to learn many of the technical skills required of medical insurance coders and billers, including a wide variety of medical office, medical coding, and medical insurance billing skills. You will learn how to analyze medical records and assign codes that classify diagnoses and procedures; support assessment of clinical care; and support medical research activity in hospitals, physicians' offices, and other health care facilities.
What Is Medical Billing?
Medical billing is vital to the smooth functioning of the medical office. Medical billers calculate the total amount due from a patient, prepare invoices to be sent out, and follow up to ensure that payment has been received. One of the most important responsibilities of medical billers is contacting insurance companies to negotiate payment or reimbursement on behalf of patients and doctors. Medical billers may have some interaction with patients to answer questions about health care finances.
What Is Medical Coding?
Medical coding involves recording designated codes in patients' medical records. Each type of procedure or treatment has its own designated code that health insurance companies use to determine the reasons the patient was seen and what procedures and treatments were performed. The role of the medical coder is to ensure that each procedure is properly coded in accordance with industry standards.
Medical Billing and Coding Program Features
Achieve your goal of starting a new and exciting career as a medical biller and coder. Our program offers a curriculum that can help you by providing classroom lectures and lab training in:
- Health insurance including paperwork, legal issues, and insurance fraud and abuse
- General office procedures including use of office machines, keyboarding and computer applications, and an introduction to the World Wide Web
- Medical coding and terminology
Kaplan College's Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Diploma program can provide you with the technical skills required by employers in health care services. Listed below is a sample of the courses offered to you in this program:
- Coding and Insurance
- Database Concepts and Applications
- Medical Bookkeeping Concepts and Applications
- Medical Terminology
- Occupational Transcription
- Records Management for the Professional
Potential Career Opportunities
With a diploma from Kaplan College, you can seek various entry-level employment opportunities as a medical billing and coding specialist in:
- Medical offices/clinics
- Home health agencies
- Hospitals
- Insurance companies
- Medical billing companies
- Medical group practices
- Nursing homes
Externship
You will be required to complete an externship at an approved facility in the community. The externship gives you an opportunity to gain medical billing and coding experience needed for entry-level employment in doctors' offices, clinics, hospitals, home health care services, nursing and residential care facilities, and insurance companies.
This program also can help prepare you for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) examination sponsored by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). The CPC certification signifies to employers that you have achieved a level of knowledge and expertise in coding of services, procedures, and diagnoses for physician practices.†