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11135 Comprehensive Medical Coding Career Prep: 300 Hour Certificate Program

Invest in a career with a promising future and excellent career advancement and salary growth potential. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, "Employment for coders is expected to grow faster than average (up 18% through 2016). Job prospects should be very good; technicians with a strong background in medical coding will be in particularly high demand." Median annual earnings of medical records and health information technicians were $30,610 in 2008, up from $28,030 in 2006. The top 10% earned more than $50,060 in 2008, up from $45,260 in 2006.

According to the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), “A recent survey on Monster.com revealed 310 medical coding positions.” Also, according to the 2008 AAPC salary survey, medical coders earned on average between $38,000 (non-certified) and $45,000 (CPC certified). Others with specialty certification earned on average close to $60,000 and consultants earned on average over $73,000. The survey also concluded that salaries in 2008 were up by 19% compared with 2007 in the New England area. According to American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), a 2008 survey revealed that coder salaries ranged from $37,000 to over $57,000 with the average coding salary being $43,359. Other career opportunities in the Health Information Management profession ranged from $46,000 to over $85,000.

Benefits of a career in Medical Coding:

• Medical coders can make from $15 to $35 per hour.
• Medical coding can be done from home.
• Medical coding can be a career with flexible hours.
• Medical coding can be the start of a life long career leading to a six figure salary.
• Medical coding is one of the few health occupations in which there is little or no direct contact with patients.
• The U.S. population is aging (baby boomers) and employment prospects for medical coders are excellent!

Course Curriculum: Using a Body System/Body Area approach, this certificate program will completely prepare the student for entrance into the field of medical coding.  In this program, the student will learn and be prepared to work in the coding field for any medical specialty for all aspects of coding.  The disciplines that will be incorporated into this program will include a comprehensive study of Medical Language, Anatomy and Physiology, Pathophysiology and Disease Process, ICD-9-CM Coding, CPT-4 Coding, HCPCS Coding, Modifier Usage, Billing, and Coding Rules and Regulations for all Medical Specialties.   In addition, this program will include preparation for internship and job search, as well as preparation for working in the “real-world” of medical coding.

Upon completion of the program, the student will be equipped and ready to work in the medical coding field as a medical coder or a number of other positions.  There are many different positions that a medical coding expert might pursue.  A medical coder may work in a hospital, at a physician group or office, a nursing care facility, an outpatient care center, a Tumor or Cancer Registry, a home health care service, a medical billing office, insurance companies, governmental offices, public health departments, medical auditing companies, medical equipment companies, drug companies, health care consultants, suppliers or vendors of health care organizations, etc.

After gaining real world medical coding experience, students wishing to further their career will be able to pursue additional credentials such as the CPC Certification (Certified Professional Coder) through the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) or the CCS Certification (Certified Coding Specialist) through AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association).

Program Details:

• 300 hours of instruction and training
• 50 Weeks - 6 hours per week
• Class begins September 21, 2010
• Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30-9:30 PM
• Additional cost for books is approximately $600 (non-refundable)
• Students must be fluent in English and have excellent written and verbal skills
• Students should have basic computer skills
• Total cost of program is $6,000 (includes $500 non-refundable registration fee

Objectives:

 Upon successful completion of the program, the student will be able to:

• recognize, understand, and build medical terms
• recognize and understand the medical terminology written and spoken in a medical office or hospital medical record
• recognize and understand how the body is structured and how its systems, organs, and body areas function
• recognize and understand the diseases associated with the medical terms
• code the ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes used by doctors and hospitals
• code the CPT-4 procedure codes for services provided by doctors and hospitals
• code HCPCS codes associated with the services in doctors' offices or hospitals
• apply modifiers as appropriate
• code all aspects of actual case studies in all medical specialties for all areas of coding requirements
• understand how coding affects billing and the basic billing process
• recognize, apply and search for rules and regulations that govern the use of codes
• prepare for the internship and/or job search process
• apply for a position as a medical coder or other position requiring these skills

Requirements for Successful Completion: Students must pass all quizzes and tests with an average of 70%. Students will be allowed to make up two quizzes or tests.

Payment Plans:

Option A: Pay the entire tuition (which includes the non-refundable registration fee) by September 14, 2010, and receive a $600 discount (Total due = $5,400). The additional cost for books is non-refundable.

Option B: Pay a non-refundable registration fee of $500 (this is part of the $6,000 tuition) to reserve your seat. Note: A total of $3,000 must be paid before starting class on September 21. The remaining balance of $3,000 must be paid in fifteen installments of $200, due on the 15th and 30th of each month. The first payment is due on October 15, 2010. Assabet reserves the right to withdraw students from the program who fall more than 30 days behind in payments. The additional cost for books is non-refundable.

Withdrawal Policy: (The effective withdrawal date is the date we receive written notification of withdrawal.)

• Withdrawal on or before 12/1/2010: Student is responsible for 35% of tuition and will be refunded for amounts paid over $2,100.*
• Withdrawal from 12/2/2010 to 3/1/2011: Student is responsible for 50% of tuition and will be refunded for amount paid over $3,000.*
• Withdrawal after 3/1/2011: no refund.
• * If the student received an early payment discount, then the student is responsible for the applicable percentage of the discounted tuition.

Attend our pre-registration information night held on Wednesday, September 1, 2010, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM.

Attend the information night to learn more about a career in medical coding.

• meet the instructor
• learn about career opportunities in the field
• learn about the curriculum and how the course will be taught
• learn what a typical day is like as a medical coder
• bring your questions!

Note: A special application form will be needed to register for this class. Please call us at 508-263-9651 and ask for a Comprehensive Medical Coding application.

Cynthia Trapp, CHFP, CMPE, CPC, CPC-I, CCS-P, CHC, PCA is Director of Professional Coding at the renowned Lahey Clinic. She is a leader in the health care industry, a recognized national speaker, past president and current president-elect of the Burlington Chapter of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and project director for the implementation of handheld technology at Lahey Clinic.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, September 21, 2010 — September 15, 2011

6:30 PM – 9:30 PM Course Fee $6,000