Medical Billing and Coding

Overview

Medical billing and coding programs include topics such as:

• Medical treatment and billing documentation
• Medical records
• Basic anatomy and physiology
• Medical terminology
• Data classification and coding
• Regulations relating to Medicare
• Health insurance law, policy, and regulations

Concentrations

In medical billing and coding programs, students may be able to specialize in:

• Medical coding specialist
• Medical billing specialist

Schools

Many career and technical schools as well as most community colleges and two-year schools offer certificate and associate degree programs in medical billing and coding. A certificate program usually takes a year of full-time study. An associate degree program usually takes two years of full-time study.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

• Accounting Technology and Bookkeeping
• Anatomy
• Court Reporting
• Data Entry and Processing
• Health Records Technology
• Insurance
• Legal Secretarial Studies
• Medical Assisting
• Medical Office Management
• Medical Secretarial Studies
• Medical Transcription
• Office Management
• Office Support

Related Careers

Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

• Billing Clerks
• Data Entry Keyers
• Health Information Technicians
• Medical Assistants
• Medical Coders and Billers
• Medical Secretaries

Other Careers Related to this Program of Study

• Bookkeeping and Accounting Clerks
• General Office Clerks
• Insurance Policy and Claims Clerks

Program Admission

You can prepare for this program of study by getting your high school diploma or GED.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

• Biology
• Business and Applied English
• Business Math
• Health Education
• Keyboarding
• Office Procedures

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

A certificate program in medical coding and billing typically requires that you study courses such as the following:

• Clinical Practicum
• Healthcare Laws and Ethics
• Human Anatomy and Physiology
• Introduction to CPT Coding
• Introduction to Health Information Management
• Introduction to ICD-9-CM Coding
• Keyboarding
• Medical Terminology
• Pathology and Disease Processes
• Topics for Certification Exam

Medical coding and billing programs generally include supervised work experience.

Things to Know

Office technology and medical knowledge change constantly. Expect to take classes throughout your career to keep your skills up to date.

Schools

East Side Area

Big Bend Community College

• Business Information Management--Medical Office and Billing Support Services

Walla Walla Community College

• Medical Billing & Coding Specialist

Walla Walla Community College (Clarkston)

• Medical Billing Specialist

King-Snohomish Area

Bellevue College

• Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

Edmonds Community College

• Medical Information Technology--Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

Everett Community College

• Business Technology--Medical Administrative Support
• Business Technology--Medical Billing Specialist
• Medical Coding

Green River College

• Medical Coding and Reimbursement Specialist
• Medical Office Administration

Highline College

• Professional Coding

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

• Medical Billing & Coding Professional

Renton Technical College

• Medical Coding Specialist
• Revenue Management Specialist

Shoreline Community College

• Medical Coding and Reimbursement Specialist

Kitsap Area

Olympic College

• Medical Billing and Coding

Spokane Area

Carrington College

• Medical Billing and Coding

Spokane Community College

• Medical Office Billing and Coding Specialist

Tacoma Area

Bates Technical College

• Administrative Medical Assistant

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom

• Medical Billing and Coding

Pierce College Puyallup

• Medical Billing and Coding

Tacoma Community College

• Health Information Technology--Medical Billing Specialist

Vancouver Area

Clark College

• Medical Billing/Coding Professional
• Medical Billing/Coding Specialist

West Side Area

Bellingham Technical College

• Medical Coding & Billing Generalist

Grays Harbor College

• Medical Coding

Lower Columbia College

• Business Technology--Medical Billing & Coding Specialist

Peninsula College

• Administrative Office Systems--Medical Office Assistant
• Medical Office Assisting

Skagit Valley College

• Medical Billing & Coding Certificate

South Puget Sound Community College

• Medical Billing and Coding

Yakima Area

Perry Technical Institute

• Medical Office Administration & Coding

Yakima Valley College

• Medical Billing and Coding

Yakima Valley College (Grandview)

• Medical Billing & Coding