Online Advanced Medical Coding Course
Become a Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
Are you a medical coding professional who would like to advance to the top of your field? Hospital coding may be the next step for you. In this 100% online course, you will prepare for one of the most in-demand areas of the coding profession, facility-based, hospital coding. Upon successful completion, you will be prepared to sit for the American Health Information Management Association's (AHIMA) Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) exam, the industry's leading credential for medical coding.
Job Outlook for Certified Coding Specialists
-
Advanced medical coders, especially those with CCS status, are among the best-paid members of the coding profession. According to the AHIMA, over 75% of their members earn $50,000 or more, many without a bachelor's degree. PayScale.com reports that early-career coding specialists earn around $16.00 per hour, then advance to $31.00 per hour as they gain experience.
-
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job demand for Medical Records & Health Information Technicians is expected to grow by 8% between now and 2029. This is much faster than the overall growth rate for all jobs.
Certified Coding Specialist FAQs
-
WHAT DO HOSPITAL CODERS DO?
Certified Coding Specialists take data from patient records and create data that is submitted to insurance companies or government programs for reimbursement. They provide high-quality and accurate data by:- Reviewing patient records and correctly assigning numeric codes for each procedure using the ICD-10-CM and CPT® coding systems.
- Correctly apply medical terminology to describe disease processes and pharmacology concepts.
-
IS CERTIFICATION NECESSARY FOR ADVANCED HOSPITAL CODING?
Certification is a crucial indicator of a coder's proficiency and professional ambition. Since academic and public health researchers also use their data to define and monitor health trends, certification such as the CCS provides these groups with a high level of confidence in the quality of data and the procedures used to compile it. This course includes a voucher for the CCS exam fee.
Course Objectives
- Identify the roles and responsibilities of a coder in both inpatient and outpatient facilities.
- Abstract health information from clinical documentation using your knowledge of medical terminology, anatomy/physiology, and disease processes.
- Assign ICD-10-CM/PCS and CPT/ HCPCS Level II codes and modifiers in accordance with current coding guidelines.
- Understand reimbursement methodologies.
- Clarify conflicting, ambiguous, or missing information from health records by querying the physician.
- Participate in clinical documentation improvement initiatives to ensure accurate and complete health data.
Prerequisites and Requirements
This is not an entry-level course. Before taking this course, you should:
- have previous coding experience or education; and
- have completed either the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant with Medical Billing and Coding course or the Medical Billing and Coding course.
Curriculum
- Hospital Structure, Billing, and Insurance
- Ethics and HIPAA Administrative Simplification
- Inpatient Acute Care Diagnosis Coding
- Regulatory Guidelines and Reporting Requirements for Inpatient Care
- ICD-10-PCS Inpatient Procedure Coding
- Outpatient Coding: CPT and HCPCS Level II
- Data Quality, Compliance, and Auditing
- Career Roadmap
- CCS Exam Preparation
Instructors
-
Carline Dalgleish
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. -
Bunny Reeves
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).
Registration and Enrollment
This course is open enrollment. You can register and begin any time.