The Medical Billing and Coding Certificate Program is designed for those who want to begin medical billing and coding careers or prepare for a nationally recognized certification exam. The training in this program provides the necessary skills required by employers seeking a medical biller or medical coder. Medical billers are responsible for submitting claims to insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid, and in some instances, patients themselves on behalf of their employers or clients. Professional medical coders transform verbal descriptions of diseases, injuries, and procedures into numeric or alphanumeric codes. The coding of health-related data permits access to medical records by diagnoses and procedures for use in clinical care, research, and education. Students who successfully complete this program are prepared to sit for the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)—Certified Professional Coder Exam (CPC) and/or the AAPC Certified Professional Biller (CPB) exam. For more information on the national certification exams or student membership with the AAPC or AHIMA, please visit either www.aapc.com or www.ahima.org. This program takes nine months to complete, and runs over the course of two semesters. Payment plans available.
Prerequisite: 1) Proficiency in English and proof of high school diploma or GED is required. 2) Must be at least 18 years of age. 3) Students must be comfortable using computer systems.
Students who pass the CPC exam are eligible to receive college credit through Charter Oak State College.
To Apply: To register for this class, please submit your registration form through our secure portal using the link below.
Click here to access our registration form.
Registration is not guaranteed until payment is received or 3rd party payment is confirmed. Upon registration, you will receive an email from Mx-WorkforceDevelopment@MxCC.edu, and in that email, we will include instructions for payment.
The following courses are required to earn this certificate:
First Semester
Medical Office Electronic Health Records
Medical Terminology and Anatomy for Coders
Medical Insurance
Second Semester
Medical Coding I
Medical Coding II
Upcoming Courses for Spring 2023
CRN: 1406 | Medical Insurance Online | Fee: $499 | 1/20-5/14 | Instructor: Jill Flanigan
CRN: 1407 | Medical Office EHR Online | Fee: $499 | 1/20-5/14 | Instructor: Jill Flanigan
CRN: 1408 | Medical Terminology and Anatomy Online | Fee: $825 | 1/20-5/14 | Instructor: Jill Flanigan
Students completing in Spring 2023(who began in Fall 22)
Choose one option for Medical Coding 1 and Medical Coding 2
CRN: 1403 | Medical Coding I Online | Fee: $499 | 1/20-5/14 | Instructor: Elaine Ippolito
or
CRN: 1402 | Medical Coding I LRON | Fee: $499 | 1/20-5/14 |Meets Virtually Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30pm-6:45pm| Instructor: Elaine Ippolito
—
CRN: 1405 | Medical Coding II Online | Fee: $499 | 1/20-5/14 | Instructor: Ann-Marie Barone
or
CRN: 1404 | Medical Coding II |TRAD | Fee: $499 | 1/20-5/14 |Meets in Person on Mondays and Wednesdays from 11am to 12:45pm in Wheaton Hall 312| Instructor: Jill Flanigan
Registration is not guaranteed until payment is received or 3rd party payment is confirmed.
Upon registration, you will receive an email from Mx-WorkforceDevelopment@MxCC.edu, and in that email, we will include instructions for payment.
Instructions for Making Payments Online
Please click here for step-by-step instructions on how to make payments online. These instructions work for both credit and non-credit (continuing education) courses.
Refund Policy
A full tuition refund can be made if you withdraw from your course at least one working day before the course start date. Once the course has started, refunds are only provided under special circumstances and require a written request to the Workforce Development and Continuing Education Office. They are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. A refund is not guaranteed.
Medical Coding I
Students will explain the use of classification systems, clinical vocabularies, and nomenclatures in healthcare. Students will apply diagnosis and procedure codes from the current version (and available future releases) of the International Classification of Disease – Clinical Modification, the International Classification of Disease – Procedural Coding System, the International Classification of Disease for Oncology, and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Students will understand coding for cancer registry, abstracting for cancer registry, and cancer staging. (Updated Fall 2021)
Medical Coding II
Students will explain the use of classification systems, clinical vocabularies, and nomenclatures in healthcare. Students will apply codes from the current version (and available future releases) of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) to describe diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and medical and surgical services. Students will apply Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II codes to report healthcare procedures, supplies, products, and services that are not reportable under the CPT system. Students will apply codes from the Systemized Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms (SNOMED-CT) to describe diseases, clinical findings, etiologies, procedures, and outcomes. Students will understand the uses of other clinical classifications, terminologies, and codes sets including Logical Observation Identifiers, names, and Codes (LOINC), International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), Current Dental Terminology (CDT), RxNorm, National Drug Codes (NDC) and nursing terminologies. (Updated Fall 2021)
Medical Insurance
This course will introduce students to the ever-changing environment of medical health insurance and claims processing, insurance terminology, types of insurance, and the eligibility and benefit structure of the insurance plan. Topics discussed will include the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Medicare, Medicaid, Managed Care, TRICARE, and Workers’ Compensation. Students will learn to generate and manage billing claim forms for the medical office and other organizations. As hospitals and physician offices look for more efficient ways to collect payments and prevent billing oversights, the need for medical billers continues to expand. Students will be prepared to analyze and accurately decipher complicated medical claims and oversee the entire billing and reimbursement process. Many medical billers enjoy a lucrative income working independently, or by supporting clients directly in medical offices or hospitals. If you’re currently employed in medical administration, or looking to enter the field, you’ll benefit from this training in medical billing. (Updated Fall 2017)
Medical Office Electronic Health Records
This course is meant to give students an inside look at electronic documentation that is an essential component of healthcare recordkeeping. It offers students fundamental knowledge of health information systems and introduces the use of electronic health record systems and health information exchanges (HIE). This course includes rules, regulations, and innovations in electronic health records, as well as hands-on exercises that use real EHR software to transform theoretical EHR concepts into practical understanding. Using current, realistic medical office cases, students build transferrable computerized medical billing and scheduling skills.
Medical Terminology and Anatomy for Coders
Medical language translates into communication used by all levels of staff working in or around a clinical environment. It is very logical and organized according to body systems, anatomy, physiology and disease processes. A course in medical terminology is essential for students who will be involved in any science-related career. Students will be introduced to the systems of the body and terminology related to each system, along with anatomy. Common medical abbreviations of tests, diseases and procedures will be introduced. Students will learn about the structure of medical words, including prefixes, suffixes, combining forms, and how to decipher medical words. (Updated Fall 2017)
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, graduates will be able to:
- Validate that health record documentation is complete and accurate.
- Apply classification system guidelines including ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, HCPCS II, and SNOMED.
- Understand and apply knowledge of medical terminology, computer concepts and applications as they apply to the Electronic Health Record (EHR) and electronic claims submission.
- Apply payer policies, rules, and regulations to submit claims for reimbursement and follow claims through the revenue cycle including follow-up, appeals, posting payments, and collections.
- Articulate healthcare regulations related to medical billing and debt collection including HIPAA, the fair Debt Collections Act, Stark Law, and False Claims Act.
Outlook
Medical Billing and Coding Certificate graduates who earn the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Certified Professional Biller (CPB) or the AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential are prepared for immediate entry into the workforce. According to the AAPC 2022 Salary Survey, in Connecticut, the average salary for a CPB was $56,652 and the average salary for a CPC was $58,055. Additional information is available in the
AAPC 2022 Salary Survey.
Transferability
- Graduates of the Medical Coding Certificate may apply their Medical Terminology and Medical Coding courses to our credit Clinical Coding Certificate, Health Information Technology Data Management A.S Degree program, or Health Care Administration A. S. Degree program (only Medical Terminology applies to the HCA program).
- Successful completion of the Health Information Technology – Data Management associate degree program or Health Care Administration associate degree allows graduates to transfer Charter Oak State College to complete a bachelor’s degree in either program.
- Students who pass the CPC exam are eligible to receive college credit through Charter Oak State College.
Jobs in Connecticut
Medical Coding skills are in demand in healthcare workplace settings, including:
- Physicians’ Offices
- Outpatient Clinics
- Hospitals
- Home Health Agencies
- Insurance Companies
- Long-term Care
This Program Qualifies for the Following Funding Options:
Veterans Funding
Veteran’s Administration (VA) education benefits may be applied to non-credit workforce training programs. A veteran of the armed forces who is interested in enrolling in a non-credit program should contact the College Veteran’s Administration representative to discuss eligibility requirements and the application process.
MxCC Veteran’s Administration Representative Contact Information: Melissa Hall at MX-Veterans@mxcc.commnet.edu or 860-343-5720.
WIOA
Are You Unemployed?
You may be eligible for funding for several training programs if you meet certain income requirements. Most Middlesex Community College career programs are eligible for WIOA funding. Contact the American Job Center in Meriden at 203-238-3688 ASAP.
CT PATHWAYS PROGRAM (SNAP)
The CT Pathways program prepares and assists clients by offering vocational training, career activities, case management, and support services. The SNAP Education and Training program assists students who are interested in career training for the following courses:
Certified Nurse Aide- Human Services Assistant
- Medical Billing and Coding
- Patient Care Technician
- Pharmacy Technician
- Phlebotomy Technician
- Security Officer Certification
- Veterinary Assistant Certification
To be eligible, students must receive SNAP benefits throughout the entire course, have a high school diploma or GED, be a US citizen, not have a felony record for most courses, and not receive TANF (cash) assistance from CT DSS.
For more information about the SNAP program, visit the SNAP page.
CT Statewide Healthcare Industry Pathways (CT SHIP)
USDOL funding is available for eligible students in this program. For more information, please contact Continuing Education at 860-343-5865 or MX-WorkforceDevelopment@mxcc.edu. Learn more about the CT SHIP program here.
