Health Sciences Department | C.C. Certificate of Completion | Less than one year

You will be taught some exciting new skills in this program. Among these new skills, you will learn how to:

• Translate doctors' notes into useful medical code
• Navigate through various insurance rules and regulations to reduce accounts receivable (A/R) days
• Understand the nuances of various types of insurance carriers along with their claim requirements

Career opportunities may include but are not limited to:

• Medical coder
• Medical biller

Interested in one of these career fields? Here are some qualities that you might possess that will serve you in these fields:

Medical coders are excellent critical thinkers who possess a strong focus and are detail orientated. They are able to meet production and accuracy standards while working independently or as a team.

Medical billers demonstrate initiative while maintaining effective verbal and written communication skills with patients, teammates, and providers. They are able to develop and meet goals and objectives for themselves while analyzing and interpreting data. Medical billers will also need to understand the revenue process and possess some basic accounting skills.

Earning potential in Oregon according to the most recent data:

• Medical coder: $49,000-$51,000 annually
• Medical biller: $42,000-$43,000 annually

PROGRAM CODE: CC.MEDBILLCODE

Looking for a career in healthcare but don't want to give injections or draw blood? Work with physicians and help patients in the front office with the Medical Billing and Coding certificate from Clackamas Community College.

Medical Coders analyze the doctor's documentation using specific guidelines to determine the correct codes for billing the doctor's services. The insurance biller will apply healthcare laws to create and submit the claims for the doctor's work. The insurance biller will work with the insurance companies and patients to track the claims through payment of services rendered.

The work of the coder and insurance biller can produce prompt and proper payments to your doctor and lower their costs by applying current health insurance regulations and practices to healthcare billing, coding and reimbursement. After completing this program, students will be exposed to the knowledge to prepare them to sit for the national certification exams through the AAPC Certified Professional Biller (CPB) and Certified Professional Coder (CPC).

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:

• perform medical insurance billing, including producing claims and making changes to claims;
• apply coding and billing guidelines and laws;
• analyze insurance reimbursement forms to ensure insurance companies have paid accurately;
• post payments/adjustments to patient accounts;
• explain provider chart notes and code patient visits accurately for billing;
• communicate with providers and patients about billing and coding;
• describe healthcare laws that pertain to medical billing and coding;
• maintain confidentiality and security of patient data.

CAREERS

Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to work confidently in medical billing and/or coding.