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Course Code: GES148
Nancy Smith has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Her clinical experience includes working as a medical assistant for a network of rural health clinics, and as a medical coder, insurance claims specialist, and medical records auditor. She worked as a medical office manager for ten years, where she recruited and trained all medical assistants. Nancy holds a bachelor's degree in vocational education and has developed and taught medical assistant programs.
LaTisha Cottingham has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She has six years of teaching experience in the field of medical billing and coding and Medical Assisting. Currently, she is employed as an HIM Analyst for a Long-Term Care establishment that is based out of Alabama. Before that, she was employed as the lead instructor for the Allied Health Department at a local career institute. LaTisha's field of expertise is in the area of physician-based inpatient coding and Emergency Department coding. The certifications that she holds are as follows: a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), a Certified Professional Coder (CPC), and a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA). In preparation for ICD-10-CM, LaTisha received her ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer Certification from American Health Information Association (AHIMA), where she is currently a member. LaTisha is also a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the National Healthcare Association (NHA) where she is a test proctor.
Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Business Information Systems, a master's degree in Leadership, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Health Information Management. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator and an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Dalgleish is the author of an ICD-10 coding system and also owns her own consulting firm, AnnGrant Educational Services.
Lydia S. Stewart, RN, BSN, currently serves as the Revenue Cycle Manager at a large regional medical center. Lydia has been a Registered Nurse for 23 years, including 15 years specializing in Critical Care Nursing and supervision. She is responsible for Medical Audits, Charge Capture, and governmental compliance audits and reviews. Lydia is a member of the Louisiana Medical Auditor Association and Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).
Bunny Reeves is the senior ambulatory surgery coder at the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She trains student coders at Maimonides Medical Center and previously trained and supervised entry-level coders at Staten Island's St. Vincent Medical Center. Reeves is a Certified Coding Specialist, accredited by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Sharon L. Blackford, MA, BA, RMA, has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. She has a Master's degree in Organizational Management, a Bachelor's degree in Business Management, and has served as a Registered Medical Assistant since 1994. Sharon was an active duty Clinical Specialist in the U.S. Army for 10 years. Sharon later moved to the Gulf Coast to accept a position as the Director of Education of Blue Cliff College and was promoted to Campus Director.
Prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites to take this course. However, in order to sit for national certification exams, candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent; therefore, it is recommended you have this before enrolling for this course.
Requirements:
Hardware Requirements:
Software Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:
After successfully completing your course, you'll receive access to your study materials to help you prepare for your certification exam:
Yes, ed2go courses are completely online. However, keep in mind that not all certifying bodies or industry-specific certifications are recognized internationally. Please review your country's regulations prior to enrolling in courses that prepare for certification.
Yes, this course actually prepares you for two certifications. Upon completion of all your coursework, you will be prepared to sit for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam, offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam, offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). You will receive vouchers for both exams after successfully completing the course and your financial obligation.
This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.
This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, you'll receive twelve (12) months to complete the course.
The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact your Student Advisor to help you work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.
You may be assigned with an instructor or team of industry experts for one-on-one course interaction. Your support will be available (via email) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our instructors are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach. You will be assigned to an Advisor for academic support.
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a certificate of completion. In addition, you will receive exam vouchers for the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam, offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) offered by National Healthcareer Association (NHA) after successful completion of the course and financial obligation.
This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.
This course is non-credit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements. Financing is available from select schools. Learn more about financial assistance.
If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us" form.
CPC stands for Certified Professional Coder, and it's the most highly recognized medical coding certification in the healthcare industry. The credential is offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Earning your CPC credential will show prospective employers that you've mastered various types of codes including CPT, ICD-10-M, and HCPCS Level II. It will also show that you understand how to review physician and non-physician provider documentation, code for surgical procedures, and adhere to regulatory coding guidelines.
A Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) is a certification earned by those who have proven their expertise in efficiently and effectively running healthcare offices. This nationally recognized designation is something that many employers are searching for in one of the fastest-growing careers today. Upon earning this certification, you'll be able to confidently handle correspondence, answer calls, schedule appointments, operate computer systems, maintain files, update and maintain patient information, and create operation reports for any medical practice, essential duties for any administrative medical assistant.
An Administrative Medical Assistant manages all the front desk activities for a hospital, doctor's office, or other medical facility. This is an integral role in healthcare as it allows doctors and other medical staff to focus on caring for patients. In this role, you will need to have excellent customer service skills as you are the first person that patients connect with at a medical facility. You will need to be able to multitask, deal with stress well, use computer systems, handle money, communicate clearly and concisely, and understand medical billing and coding. You'll master all of these things and more!
Medical Billers and Coders are responsible for processing patient data including medical records and related insurance. In this position, you will code a patient's diagnosis and then request payment from the patient's insurance company. You will play an important role in ensuring that healthcare providers are quickly and accurately paid for the treatment they give patients.
The difference between an Administrative Medical Assistant and a Medical Assistant is that while both positions can and do perform clerical tasks, a Medical Assistant also has the ability to perform some clinical tasks such as helping with examinations, giving injections, and preparing specimens for lab tests.
The demand for Administrative Medical Assistants is high, and it is expected to grow 23 percent over the next several years according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This job growth will result from an increasing elderly population as well as advances in healthcare and office technology.
Yes. There is a high demand for qualified medical billing and coding professionals in the healthcare industry today. Demand will increase as the population in the Unites States ages. Jobs for these professionals are on the rise and expected to grow faster than average through 2026 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Administrative Medical Assistants earn a median salary of $36,000. Your exact salary will vary, but the areas with the highest paying jobs for Administrative Medical Assistants include California, Idaho, Washington D.C., and Connecticut.
According to the AAPC based on its membership, the average Medical Biller and Coder without certification earns around $45,000 per year while those with certification earn an average of $51,500. This means that certification can help you earn up to 15 percent more in this field! Other salary websites place the median salary for those starting out in Medical Billing and Coding around $38,500.
A day in the life of a Medical Biller and Coder is a rewarding one. You are responsible for ensuring that healthcare providers receive appropriate compensation for the care they provide as well as helping patients get the maximum benefit of their insurance. It is a job that requires a high level of attention to detail at all times because codes must be correct to produce appropriate bills for services. Much of your time will be spent in front of a computer organizing statements, reviewing bills, and performing quality control. You also may be required to negotiate with insurance companies via phone on behalf of providers or patients. It's also important to coordinate with other coders to ensure accuracy and adherence to standards. Finally, you'll want to keep up on the latest developments and regulations in the industry through continuing education.
The CPC exam is a multiple-choice test. It is made up of 150 multiple-choice questions and you will have up to 5 hours and 40 minutes to finish the exam. You can and will use your codebooks to take the exam. You will be required to correctly answer 105 questions (70 percent) to pass the exam.
Yes. The CMAA exam consists of 110 multiple-choice questions. The questions are weighted so some are worth more points than others, and you must score a minimum of 390 points in order to pass the exam. The exam must be taken as a PSI testing center, and you will be given 2 hours and 10 minutes to complete it.
Medical Billers and Coders work in a variety of settings. The most common settings include hospitals, doctors' offices and insurance agencies. Some medical billing and coding professionals work for companies that develop medical software, and some work for education institutions that work to train other medical billers and coders. Government agencies have also been known to employ medial billers and coders including the National Center for Health Statistics and Medicaid offices. You may also have the ability to work for a reputable company from your own home!
National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) has a single goal: to improve the quality of patient care in all medical settings. NHA believes that increasing the knowledge, skills, and competency of healthcare professionals will result in improved patient care as well as better efficiency in the healthcare industry. NHA provides a variety of certifications that work toward achieving this goal. The organization is a nationally-recognized and highly-respected healthcare certification provider.