Medical Billing and Coding (O.A.)

Program Outline and Course Descriptions

The standards for accuracy in health insurance claims processing are becoming more exacting at the same time that health insurance plan options are rapidly expanding. These changes, coupled with modifications in regulations affecting the health insurance industry, are a constant challenge to medical office personnelThose responsible for processing health insurance claims require instruction in all aspects of medical insurance, including plan options, carrier requirements, various regulations, extracting relevant information from source documents, accurate claim form completion, and diagnosis and procedure coding. The Medical Billing and Coding Occupational Associate Degree program at Laurus College gives students the skills to market themselves to future employers in this fast-paced industry. 

Course #  Title  Lecture 

Hours 

Lab 

Hours 

Quarter Credit 
CSC 100 Student Success Fundamentals 50  10  5 
ENG 100  English Composition I*  50  10  5 
HUM 140  Introduction to Psychology*  50  10  5 
HUM 200  World History*  50  10  5 
MED 110  Medical Terminology  50  10  5 
MED 150 Health Insurance  50  10  5 
MED 160 Diagnosis Coding  50  10  5 
MED 170 Supplies and Procedural Coding 50  10  5 
MED 200  Electronic Medical Billing  50  10  5 
MED 210 Medical Field Overview 50  10  5 
MED 220 Medical Office Functions  50  10  5 
MED 230 Legal & Regulatory Issues in Business 50  10  5 
MED 240 Health Care Facility  50  10  5 
MED 250  Medical Billing Processes  50  10  5 
MED 260  Human Resource Issues  50  10  5 
MED 270 Medical Management Supervision  50  10  5 
MED 280 Staff Management  50  10  5 
MED 290 Medical Front Office 50  10  5 
MTH 101 Introductory Algebra* 50  10  5 
PHY 200  Physical Science* 50  10  5 
  Totals  1000  200  100 

*General Education course ** Applied General Education course 

 

  • Demonstrate: an understanding of medical terminology and the importance of spelling.

  • Identify: both CPT (Current Procedural Coding) and ICD-10 (Diagnostic Coding) guidelines, and how to look up codes.

  • Show: proficiency in filling out various forms with regard to billing such as CMS-1500 claim form, appeals letters, and denial letters.

  • Read: EOB’s, aging reports, and financial policies within the medical office.

  • Identify: different types of insurance plans, and insurance terminology.

  • Understand: HIPAA guidelines including HIPAA privacy and HIPAA security rule.

  • Demonstrate: the importance of time management skills, communication, scheduling, and teamwork.

  • Perform: scholarly research.

The Medical Billing and Coding Occupational Associate Degree is 100 quarter credits and can be completed in two (2) years by attending all terms full time and consecutively.

CSC 100: Student Success Fundamentals   
This course serves as an introduction to the necessary core skills needed to be successful at an academic, professional, and personal level. Students will identify core skills, values and interests to assist in their path to success. Topics covered in this course may include time management, effective study skills, written and oral communication, improving critical thinking to enhance problem-solving skills. Other topics may include job search techniques and job etiquette, and on-the-job behavior. Students will work towards building their professional development through various assignments and topics throughout the course. Students will explore Laurus College resources for success inside and outside the classroom.

ENG 100: English Composition I 
English provides students with the basic rhetorical foundations to prepare them for the demands of academic and professional writing. Students in this course will learn and practice the strategies and processes that successful writers employ when communicating information. These strategies include reading analytically and strategically, improving reading comprehension, writing persuasively, writing for investigative purposes, problem-resolution, evaluation, explanation, and refutation.

HUM 140: Introduction to Psychology 
Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes. In this class, students will dive into what makes themselves and others behave the way they do. Topics covered in this class include Neuroscience, Sensation and Perception, Learning, Memory, Thinking and Intelligence, Developmental Psychology, Personality Theories and Assessment, Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Workplace Psychology. This class will be focused more on behavior as it pertains to the workplace rather than the clinical side of Psychology.

HUM 200: World History 
Students will explore common challenges and experiences that unite the human past and identify key global patterns over time. This overview of world history covers political, economic, social, religious, intellectual, cultural, and military history in a chronological story that will help students gain an appreciation and understanding of the distinctive character and development of individual cultures in society.

MED 110: Medical Terminology  
Students gain an understanding that many medical terms are made up of interchangeable word parts that are used over and over in different combinations.  Students in this course learn about different subsystems of the human body and their accompanying terms, as well as examine the structure of word parts and functions of each subsystem. Students also examine how the terminology relates to pathology, diagnostic procedures, treatment procedures, and pharmacology.

MED 150: Health Insurance 
This course introduces students to the various types of health insurances and the forms used in medical billing. Students will gain an understanding of the differences between insurance plans and policies. Upon completion of this class the students will accurately know how to complete the forms used for billing as well as understand the life cycle of an insurance claim.

MED 160: Diagnosis Coding 
This course teaches the skills required to properly code a diagnosis. Students will learn the differences between the different types of ICD codes, such as disease, injury, and routine health care screening codes. They will learn how to properly indicate each diagnosis code on the CMS-1500 form and they will able to code for justification of medical necessity.

MED 170: Supplies and Procedural Coding 
This course teaches the skills required to properly assign codes to office visits, procedures and surgeries performed, as well as medications and supplies used by physicians. They will learn how to bill for multiple procedures performed as well as for unusual circumstances. Students will be introduced to the requirements for correct reimbursement as well as the rules for additional justification.

MED 200: Electronic Medical Billing 
Students examine how medical software is applied to activities such as appointment scheduling, building patient files, adding guarantor information, account billing, and basic financial management. Students learn about the flow of information and the role of computers in a medical office. Students gain an understanding of how software can be used to manage billing routines and processes, including filling out billing worksheets and posting payments and adjustments. Students study report generation regarding financial summaries, patient billing, reference lists, statement routines, and general ledgers and distributions. Finally, students explore more advanced functions such as unique payments, aging reports, patient data, and period closes with and without purges.

MED 210: Medical Field Overview 
This course provides students with knowledge of health care time accreditation, history of health care, and the continuum of care used in the field. Students wishing to enter the medical field need to understand how the various health facilities, providers, and staff deal with delivering the standards of health care in the United States. It may include topics such as the theoretical and practical applications of those techniques and unique approaches to health information management. This course may allow students to focus on a variety of career opportunities in the health care and health information management organizations, networks and other professional advancement opportunities.

MED 220: Medical Office Functions 
This course introduces students to a full range of office management topics: office environment, employees, systems and functions. It may also include usage and handling of office files and records, staying tasked oriented, professional organization, ability to work well with others, problem solving skills-requiring students to apply knowledge and skills learned to complete or solve a problem. Finally, students may learn simple solutions and latest updates on marketing techniques.

MED 230: Legal and Regulatory Issues in Business 
This course provides students with comprehensive knowledge of social economics, accreditation, legal and regulatory issues, and the intellectual property and internet law. Students wishing to enter the field of business need to understand how the various legalities affect sales, leases, and E-contracts not only in United States but possibly the global economy. Topics may include the practical and legal applications of legal limitation and liability. This course could empower students with critical-thinking skills and a vast knowledge of wealth in the realm of legal decision making.

MED 240: Health Care Facility 
This course introduces students to the perspectives of management operations and techniques used by organizations and payers to improve operations at said institutions and facilities. Topics may include the strategic implementation of programs and tools for reducing costs and improving quality of basic operations in management and staff.  The course may include the use of performance improvement tools for supply chain management, scheduling, and other healthcare issues.

MED 250: Medical Billing Processes 
This course introduces students to the evolving reimbursement methodologies of the healthcare system. Topics may include health care accounting and financial statements, managing cash, billing, and collection. Students may also learn how to determine cost and use cost information in decision-making, budgeting, and performance measurement, as well as new laws and regulation that affect health care financial reporting and performance, and the revenue cycle. Finally, the student may learn about bond ratings, auditing and internal control of facility budgets and revenue.
 
MED 260: Human Resource Issues 
This course introduces students to a variety of topics that may include health informatics, human resources planning, organizations, recruitment and all-important retention of healthcare professionals, acknowledgement of incentive influences as motivation, changing demographics, culture diversity and other factors facing human resources.

MED 270: Medical Management Supervision 
This course introduces students to a variety of examples, demonstrations, and explanations of key frameworks and models for clinical supervision. Topics may also include the development of staff supervisory relationships and focus on areas identified as problematic for supervision.
 
MED 280: Staff Management 
This course introduces students to the various styles and methods of communication used for motivations and development of personnel and staff members. Students examine strategic planning, personnel management, conflict management as well as learning about staff coaching and delegation techniques. This course also examines the time and stress management to allow them to handle the daily routine and stress levels of staff multitasking and patient flow with effectiveness and minimal tension. Topics may include interviewing and budgeting along with mini-workshops that can improve leadership skills and fine tune financial and organizational skills. Finally, students learn how to submit forms for various insurance agencies.
 
MED 290: Medical Front Office 
The Medical Front Office hosts a variety of responsibilities including the art and etiquette of emailing, greeting and directing patients, and answering telephones. Other duties may include obtaining insurance verification, collecting co pays, deductibles and authorization, admitting and scheduling patients, arranging for hospital admission and laboratory services. This course may cover these topics.

MTH 101: Introductory Algebra 
This course provides students with a conceptual understanding of algebra by using problem solving applications in context to real-world application. Students will integrate meaningful applications with relevant data, graphs, tables, charts, colors, and diagrams.

PHY 200: Physical Science 
This course introduces students to physical science. Students will learn about physics, chemistry, astronomy, meteorology, and geology. This will give students the ability to understand and interact with their physical environment in a more engaging way. Some of the knowledge students gain includes Newton’s Laws, chemical elements, the universe, and geologic concepts. masking, filters, image manipulation and correction, composition, painting, and optimization for the web. Students examine techniques for efficient editing, processing, and file handling. Topics in photo editing may be studied, including color enhancement, lighting correction, and overall retouching.

Program Outline
Course #  Title  Lecture 

Hours 

Lab 

Hours 

Quarter Credit 
CSC 100 Student Success Fundamentals 50  10  5 
ENG 100  English Composition I*  50  10  5 
HUM 140  Introduction to Psychology*  50  10  5 
HUM 200  World History*  50  10  5 
MED 110  Medical Terminology  50  10  5 
MED 150 Health Insurance  50  10  5 
MED 160 Diagnosis Coding  50  10  5 
MED 170 Supplies and Procedural Coding 50  10  5 
MED 200  Electronic Medical Billing  50  10  5 
MED 210 Medical Field Overview 50  10  5 
MED 220 Medical Office Functions  50  10  5 
MED 230 Legal & Regulatory Issues in Business 50  10  5 
MED 240 Health Care Facility  50  10  5 
MED 250  Medical Billing Processes  50  10  5 
MED 260  Human Resource Issues  50  10  5 
MED 270 Medical Management Supervision  50  10  5 
MED 280 Staff Management  50  10  5 
MED 290 Medical Front Office 50  10  5 
MTH 101 Introductory Algebra* 50  10  5 
PHY 200  Physical Science* 50  10  5 
  Totals  1000  200  100 

*General Education course ** Applied General Education course 

 

Program Outcomes
  • Demonstrate: an understanding of medical terminology and the importance of spelling.

  • Identify: both CPT (Current Procedural Coding) and ICD-10 (Diagnostic Coding) guidelines, and how to look up codes.

  • Show: proficiency in filling out various forms with regard to billing such as CMS-1500 claim form, appeals letters, and denial letters.

  • Read: EOB’s, aging reports, and financial policies within the medical office.

  • Identify: different types of insurance plans, and insurance terminology.

  • Understand: HIPAA guidelines including HIPAA privacy and HIPAA security rule.

  • Demonstrate: the importance of time management skills, communication, scheduling, and teamwork.

  • Perform: scholarly research.

Program Length

The Medical Billing and Coding Occupational Associate Degree is 100 quarter credits and can be completed in two (2) years by attending all terms full time and consecutively.

Course Descriptions

CSC 100: Student Success Fundamentals   
This course serves as an introduction to the necessary core skills needed to be successful at an academic, professional, and personal level. Students will identify core skills, values and interests to assist in their path to success. Topics covered in this course may include time management, effective study skills, written and oral communication, improving critical thinking to enhance problem-solving skills. Other topics may include job search techniques and job etiquette, and on-the-job behavior. Students will work towards building their professional development through various assignments and topics throughout the course. Students will explore Laurus College resources for success inside and outside the classroom.

ENG 100: English Composition I 
English provides students with the basic rhetorical foundations to prepare them for the demands of academic and professional writing. Students in this course will learn and practice the strategies and processes that successful writers employ when communicating information. These strategies include reading analytically and strategically, improving reading comprehension, writing persuasively, writing for investigative purposes, problem-resolution, evaluation, explanation, and refutation.

HUM 140: Introduction to Psychology 
Psychology is the science of behavior and mental processes. In this class, students will dive into what makes themselves and others behave the way they do. Topics covered in this class include Neuroscience, Sensation and Perception, Learning, Memory, Thinking and Intelligence, Developmental Psychology, Personality Theories and Assessment, Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Workplace Psychology. This class will be focused more on behavior as it pertains to the workplace rather than the clinical side of Psychology.

HUM 200: World History 
Students will explore common challenges and experiences that unite the human past and identify key global patterns over time. This overview of world history covers political, economic, social, religious, intellectual, cultural, and military history in a chronological story that will help students gain an appreciation and understanding of the distinctive character and development of individual cultures in society.

MED 110: Medical Terminology  
Students gain an understanding that many medical terms are made up of interchangeable word parts that are used over and over in different combinations.  Students in this course learn about different subsystems of the human body and their accompanying terms, as well as examine the structure of word parts and functions of each subsystem. Students also examine how the terminology relates to pathology, diagnostic procedures, treatment procedures, and pharmacology.

MED 150: Health Insurance 
This course introduces students to the various types of health insurances and the forms used in medical billing. Students will gain an understanding of the differences between insurance plans and policies. Upon completion of this class the students will accurately know how to complete the forms used for billing as well as understand the life cycle of an insurance claim.

MED 160: Diagnosis Coding 
This course teaches the skills required to properly code a diagnosis. Students will learn the differences between the different types of ICD codes, such as disease, injury, and routine health care screening codes. They will learn how to properly indicate each diagnosis code on the CMS-1500 form and they will able to code for justification of medical necessity.

MED 170: Supplies and Procedural Coding 
This course teaches the skills required to properly assign codes to office visits, procedures and surgeries performed, as well as medications and supplies used by physicians. They will learn how to bill for multiple procedures performed as well as for unusual circumstances. Students will be introduced to the requirements for correct reimbursement as well as the rules for additional justification.

MED 200: Electronic Medical Billing 
Students examine how medical software is applied to activities such as appointment scheduling, building patient files, adding guarantor information, account billing, and basic financial management. Students learn about the flow of information and the role of computers in a medical office. Students gain an understanding of how software can be used to manage billing routines and processes, including filling out billing worksheets and posting payments and adjustments. Students study report generation regarding financial summaries, patient billing, reference lists, statement routines, and general ledgers and distributions. Finally, students explore more advanced functions such as unique payments, aging reports, patient data, and period closes with and without purges.

MED 210: Medical Field Overview 
This course provides students with knowledge of health care time accreditation, history of health care, and the continuum of care used in the field. Students wishing to enter the medical field need to understand how the various health facilities, providers, and staff deal with delivering the standards of health care in the United States. It may include topics such as the theoretical and practical applications of those techniques and unique approaches to health information management. This course may allow students to focus on a variety of career opportunities in the health care and health information management organizations, networks and other professional advancement opportunities.

MED 220: Medical Office Functions 
This course introduces students to a full range of office management topics: office environment, employees, systems and functions. It may also include usage and handling of office files and records, staying tasked oriented, professional organization, ability to work well with others, problem solving skills-requiring students to apply knowledge and skills learned to complete or solve a problem. Finally, students may learn simple solutions and latest updates on marketing techniques.

MED 230: Legal and Regulatory Issues in Business 
This course provides students with comprehensive knowledge of social economics, accreditation, legal and regulatory issues, and the intellectual property and internet law. Students wishing to enter the field of business need to understand how the various legalities affect sales, leases, and E-contracts not only in United States but possibly the global economy. Topics may include the practical and legal applications of legal limitation and liability. This course could empower students with critical-thinking skills and a vast knowledge of wealth in the realm of legal decision making.

MED 240: Health Care Facility 
This course introduces students to the perspectives of management operations and techniques used by organizations and payers to improve operations at said institutions and facilities. Topics may include the strategic implementation of programs and tools for reducing costs and improving quality of basic operations in management and staff.  The course may include the use of performance improvement tools for supply chain management, scheduling, and other healthcare issues.

MED 250: Medical Billing Processes 
This course introduces students to the evolving reimbursement methodologies of the healthcare system. Topics may include health care accounting and financial statements, managing cash, billing, and collection. Students may also learn how to determine cost and use cost information in decision-making, budgeting, and performance measurement, as well as new laws and regulation that affect health care financial reporting and performance, and the revenue cycle. Finally, the student may learn about bond ratings, auditing and internal control of facility budgets and revenue.
 
MED 260: Human Resource Issues 
This course introduces students to a variety of topics that may include health informatics, human resources planning, organizations, recruitment and all-important retention of healthcare professionals, acknowledgement of incentive influences as motivation, changing demographics, culture diversity and other factors facing human resources.

MED 270: Medical Management Supervision 
This course introduces students to a variety of examples, demonstrations, and explanations of key frameworks and models for clinical supervision. Topics may also include the development of staff supervisory relationships and focus on areas identified as problematic for supervision.
 
MED 280: Staff Management 
This course introduces students to the various styles and methods of communication used for motivations and development of personnel and staff members. Students examine strategic planning, personnel management, conflict management as well as learning about staff coaching and delegation techniques. This course also examines the time and stress management to allow them to handle the daily routine and stress levels of staff multitasking and patient flow with effectiveness and minimal tension. Topics may include interviewing and budgeting along with mini-workshops that can improve leadership skills and fine tune financial and organizational skills. Finally, students learn how to submit forms for various insurance agencies.
 
MED 290: Medical Front Office 
The Medical Front Office hosts a variety of responsibilities including the art and etiquette of emailing, greeting and directing patients, and answering telephones. Other duties may include obtaining insurance verification, collecting co pays, deductibles and authorization, admitting and scheduling patients, arranging for hospital admission and laboratory services. This course may cover these topics.

MTH 101: Introductory Algebra 
This course provides students with a conceptual understanding of algebra by using problem solving applications in context to real-world application. Students will integrate meaningful applications with relevant data, graphs, tables, charts, colors, and diagrams.

PHY 200: Physical Science 
This course introduces students to physical science. Students will learn about physics, chemistry, astronomy, meteorology, and geology. This will give students the ability to understand and interact with their physical environment in a more engaging way. Some of the knowledge students gain includes Newton’s Laws, chemical elements, the universe, and geologic concepts. masking, filters, image manipulation and correction, composition, painting, and optimization for the web. Students examine techniques for efficient editing, processing, and file handling. Topics in photo editing may be studied, including color enhancement, lighting correction, and overall retouching.

We Have a Lot to Offer You

We Have a Lot to Offer You!

We offer Associate and Bachelor of Science Degrees. The courses at Laurus College are taught online by experienced professionals from the field, and our college is known for its friendly learning environment and supportive staff and instructors who will feel like family.

You can even connect with faculty, classmates, and staff in person by visiting one of our locations: Atascadero, Chula Vista, Las Vegas, Oxnard, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Maria.

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