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Medical Billing and Coding Program
By Ashley Boyce, allied health world staff writer
Published: January 13th, 2010
What will a medical billing and coding program prepare me for?
Medical billing and coding uses one of a few universal medical classification systems to provide every disease, injury, medical diagnosis, and treatment its own specific alphanumeric code. This is one of the primary academic focuses of medical coding programs, as well as medical billing programs. The idea behind this was to eliminate any confusion that could come from trying to interpret the subjective notes a doctor made about his diagnosis and treatment. The advent of medical coding sees to it that everyone in the medical profession essentially speaks the same language. This allows any healthcare worker who may need to reference a patient’s medical records to know with absolute certainty the exact findings and treatment administered by a previous medical professional.
Coding specialists review patient charts while they are being treated to ensure they are complete and accurately reflect all X ray reports, lab test results, diagnosis, and planned treatment. Medical billing and coding has been instrumental in maintaining well-
organized and easily referenced comprehensive medical histories on the millions of Americans who receive medical treatment each year. These records would include critically important information like what medicine, anesthesia, or antibiotic a patient may be allergic to; or a patient’s genetic predispositions to certain diseases or ailments. This information is often instrumental in providing a current diagnosis. Both medical billing programs and medical coding programs allow students to explore hypothetical medical records extensively
Learn more about the medical billing and coding coures.
This medical information is also gathered for the purpose of analysis. Coding specialists use computer programs to analyze coded information in search of opportunities to implement changes that would improve patient care and reduce cost. Analysis also produces documented information that can be used in lawsuits or research studies.
Are there medical coding programs for specialized forms of coding?
The field of medical coding is as vast as the field of medicine itself. Much like physicians who specialize in specific disease pathologies and ailments, medical coders too can specialize. Medical billing and coding certification for medical specialties is available through a number of national organizations: The Board of Medical Specialty Coding (BMSC), The Professional Association of Healthcare Coding Specialists (PAHCS), and The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Earning these specialty certificates would add a credentialed title that would follow the earner’s name much like those who’ve earned doctorates have PhD behind their names.
As an example, the BMSC offers four general types of specialty certificates that most all specialized fields of medicine would fall under:
Specialty Coding Professional (SCP) certification is available to specialty coders with 1-2 years of experience in their specialized field, and who have proven general knowledge of billing and coding issues.
Advanced Coding Specialist (ACS) certification is for 3-5 year veterans who have achieved mastery of their specialized field, and the regulations that govern it.
Certified Compliance Professional- Physician (CCP-P) certifies compliance officers with two years experience working in smaller physician’s offices.
Home Care Coding Specialist- Diagnosis (HCS-D) is to certify home care-specific coders with two years of experience.