Medical Billing and Coding Education in Pennsylvania - PA
To achieve a certification as a Certified Coding Associate (CCA),
- Students enroll in a Pennsylvania medical billing certificate program recognized by CAHIIM, which typically takes from 9 to 12 months to complete.
- Curriculum can include biomedical sciences such as anatomy and medical terminology, introduction to health information management and health data structure and standards, data sources, healthcare data sets, data monitoring and medical coding compliance reporting, healthcare software applications, introduction to coding classifications, taxonomies, vocabularies, severity of illness systems, medical office procedures such as end of month reporting and filing appeals. There may also be a field based or virtual internship enabling the student to obtain professional practice experience. Next, it is recommended that you pursue medical billing and coding certification in Pennsylvania.
- Pass an examination administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). The CCA credential signifies that an individual has achieved a certain level of competency and knowledge as a coder, even though an individual may not have acquired on-the-job experience.
- With a coding certificate, opportunities exist for acute care coders, ambulatory coders, physician specialty coders, medical biller and claims analyst.
To achieve certification as a registered health information technician (RHIT)
- Students enroll in a CAHIIM-accredited RHIT associate degree program, which typically takes two years. There are both traditional classroom and distance learning programs available in Pennsylvania.
- Students take courses in biomedical sciences, such as medical terminology and anatomy, structure and use of health information, healthcare data sets (e.g. OASIS, UHDDS), clinical classification systems, reimbursement, healthcare statistics and research, quality management and performance improvement, healthcare legal and ethical issues, data security, and health information systems.
- Students who have graduated from a CAHIIM-accredited associate degree program take a national credentialing exam to become a registered health information technician (RHIT). An individual with a RHIT certification has either an associate or baccalaureate degree and in addition to coding, has demonstrated mastery of additional areas such as data management, compliance, privacy and other supervisory tasks.
- Employment opportunities exist as a director, documentation specialist, data integrity specialist, cancer or other disease registrar, charge master auditor and information access/disclosure specialist, instructor/trainer and supervisor.