Credit-free Inpatient/Outpatient Medical Coding and Billing

What is the Inpatient and Outpatient Medical Coding and Billing Program?

Career Step’s new training program prepares students to work in an inpatient setting or in an outpatient medical facility as a medical coder. The student will be trained to use medical records to accurately code inpatient and outpatient diagnoses and procedures and complete the reimbursement process for these encounters.

Upon completion of the program, students should be prepared to successfully pass the inpatient and/or outpatient certification exams offered by AAPC and AHIMA.

How is this IOMCB Program different from the current coding offering?

The Outpatient Medical Coding and Billing program trains students to be outpatient coders and/or outpatient coder/billers. The new IOMCB program trains students to be inpatient coders and outpatient coders, with a high level overview of both inpatient and outpatient billing. The layout of the IOMCB program is the same as the current Coding offering—no drastic restructure was done of the program.

How is the curriculum laid out?

The program consists of 19 modules, each broken into smaller units. The program culminates in an interactive, dynamic practicum that allows the student to exhibit his/her coding skills; immediate assessment and guidance is offered upon the completion of each page of the practicum. A final exam is scheduled and graded by our coding specialists.

What tools are included in the new program?

Program Navigation – The whole program is on the Dais server so it functions very intuitively, allowing the student to move easily between modules, units, and pages.

Coding Tools – Because coding and billing is such a prescribed and regulated process, there are certain tools and documents that every coder/biller must use to be successful. The Coding and Billing Training Program offers some progressive proprietary training tools, such as electronic EM worksheets and automated practical coding feedback that will allow the student to have the best tools at his/her fingertips throughout the training process. Hundreds of authentic medical records allow the student to practice coding and billing using real-world resources.

On the job, the majority of medical coders use special software to increase coding efficiency and to optimize accuracy and productivity. This software, known as encoding software, is supplied by 2 primary vendors: 3M and QuadraMed. The IOMCB program includes access to the 3M coding software, giving students real world practice with the skills and technology they will use on the job. The 3M software includes the encoder tool, as well as electronic access to the most common coding references including illustrated medical dictionaries, pharmaceutical references, AHA and AMA coding resources, and other helpful software and tools.

Updated Images – There are new and updated images and many coding-specific forms, documents, charts, and references that are designed to enhance the learning experience.

Exercise Types – There are traditional types of objective exercises throughout the training program, as well as hundreds of exercises created specifically to duplicate the coding experience. There are also Cumulative Coding Challenges interspersed throughout some latter modules that give students a chance to stop, reflect, and exhibit all of the knowledge they have gained throughout the program.

Games – The program includes crosswords, word searches, and flash cards. These are targeted games designed specifically to aid the student in learning important terminology, concepts, and definitions.

Coding Resources – In addition to the electronic coding resources and references included with the 3M package, students will receive the international coding manuals used for inpatient and outpatient coding. ICD-9-CM (diagnosis coding), CPT (medical procedural coding), and HCPCS (supply/durable medical equipment coding).

Students will receive updated copies of the codebooks with their program enrollment and will be taught extensive use of these texts.

Program Highlights

· 640 hours intensive program

· Average completion time of 9 months working part-time.

· Can be done in 4-5 months.

· Must complete the program in 12 months. Extensions beyond 12 months can be purchased.

· Career Step offers Personal Employment Consultation, Employment Referral Guides, Evaluation of Resumes, Referral Letters, and a 1 year Help Hotline after graduation for all students.

· Career Step partners with industry employers and institutions, and these strong relationships often lead to preferential status for Career Step graduates applying for employment.

· Online instructional and technical support

· The online courses integrate sound, video, a virtual classroom, discussion forum, virtual library, and INSTANTANEOUS feedback on exercises and exams

· Open enrollment-begin anytime!

· No cancellations on students!

· Peer support through online discussion board and moderated chats

· All materials are provided to the students for the one course fee

· Contains comprehensive practicum utilizing hundreds of real doctor reports

· Certification is required to enter the workforce

· Students meet and exceed requirements for both the AHlMA and AAPC certification exams, including the CCA, CPC, and CPC-H. Career Step graduates have a significantly higher pass rate than the national average for these exams.

· Program fee of $2250.00

Online Curriculum Content:

· Introduction & Program Orientation

· Technology & The Medical Professional

· Learning & Mastering Medical Terminology - Block 1

· Documentation, Confidentiality & Ethics

· Learning & Mastering Medical Terminology - Block 2

· Evolution of Coding in the Healthcare Environment

· Learning & Mastering Medical Terminology - Block 3

· Healthcare Structure & Organization

· Anatomy, Pathophysiology & Disease Processes - Block 1

· Exploring Pharmacology

· Anatomy, Pathophysiology & Disease Processes - Block 2

· Medical Record Content

· Diagnostic Coding with ICD-9-CM - Block 1

· Diagnostic Coding with ICD-9-CM - Block 2

· Medical Procedural Coding, Block 1

· Medical Procedural Coding, Block 2

· Exploring Healthcare Reimbursement

· Skill Building for Outpatient Coding

· Skill Building for Inpatient coding

· Final Exam Overview & Preparation

**Medical Procedural Coding and Skills Testing are provided on a separate website sub-domain and are considered one licensed product by the American Medical Association.

Online Program Features:

· Student access control requiring individual sign-on and password for each student - each student may only access his/her own record

· Automatic Grading for exercises and tests

· Career Step Student Forum access for program related questions and answers

· Career Step Chat room access for participation in Career Step scheduled chat sessions and organized chats

· Frequently Asked Questions for answers to common questions

· Automated help function to direct questions to the appropriate support person Integrated Program Structure that divides the text into manageable divisions

Included Reference Materials:

· Access to 3M Encoding Software Reference and Reference Plus Software

· AHA Coding Clinic

· AMA CPT Assistant

· Clinical Pharmacology Drug Reference

· Dorland's Medical Dictionary and Elsevier's Anatomy Plates

· AHA Coding Clinics for HCPCS

· Coders' Desk Reference from lngenix

· Faye Brown's ICD-9-CM Coding Handbook

· The Merck Manual

· Dictionary of medical acronyms and abbreviations

· Mosby's Diagnostic ad Laboratory Test References

· Dr. Z's interventional Radiology Coding Reference

HCPCS Level II Coding Expert (Professional Edition may be substituted at the discretion of Career Step)

ICD-9-CM Coding Expert for Hospitals Volumes 1-3 (Professional Edition may be substituted at the discretion of Career Step)

CPT Coding Professional (Standard Edition may be substituted at the discretion of Career Step)

IMPORTANT: ICD-9-CM Coding Expert, CPT Coding Professional, and HCPCS Level II Coding Expert are updated annually each fall and are time sensitive. The currently available edition of these materials are shipped or made available online upon request when the student has reached the medical records module, in advance of entering the ICD-9-CM and Medical Procedural Coding modules. Once shipped or made available online, these materials may not be returned and new releases of the materials will only be available for additional cost at retail prices. It is important that these materials are not requested, for each student, until they are needed.

System Requirements:

Hardware:

· 128 Megabytes (ME) of RAM (256 MB or higher recommended)

· 56 KBPS modem (Broadband-DSL cable modem recommended)

· Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution adapter and monitor CD-ROM or DVD drive Sound card and speakers (headphone port recommended)

· Color Printer (Not Required)

Software:

· lnternet Explorer 7.X or 8.X

· Firefox 2.X or 3.X

· Safari 3.1 or greater

· Adobe Flash Version 7 or greater

· Javascript and cookies must be enabled

· lnternet Service Provider Account

Operating System:

· Windows: Vista, XP with SP 2 or 3

· Computer with 300 megahertz (MHZ) processor clock (1 GHz or better recommended) OR Macintosh: 10.4.1 1 or greater or 10.5.X

· Power PC G3, G4 or G5 processor (500 MHz or better recommended)

AOL Users - It is recommended that AOL Users use a standard version of Netscape Navigator or lnternet Explorer through the AOL ISP connection, rather than using the AOL browser.

Maclntosh Users -The Program may be taken online using a Maclntosh computer.

Support:

Support is provided for one year during the initial enrollment period unless additional extensions are purchased in three month increments.

Student Support - Career Step provides and includes student support via email and toll free phone.

Technical Support - Career Step provides and includes student technical (computer related) support via email and toll free phone.

Final Examination:

The Career Step final examination is an independent evaluation administered to the student by Career Step upon completion of the program materials on the Clinton Community College Program Site. The final exam site is a separate site maintained and operated by Career Step and is not part of the Clinton Community College Program Site. All students must complete and pass the final examination in order to receive a Career Step certification of graduation from the Inpatient/Outpatient Medical Coding and Billing Program.

The Career Step final exam is divided into two portions, objective and screening. In order to receive a graduation certificate, the objective portion must be passed with an 85% or better. Students who pass the final examination will be awarded graduation certification, graduation with honors or graduation with high honors based on their score. The screening portion of the exam is used to assist students in assessing their practical coding skills and provides feedback in relationship to their practical coding skills, as well as suggestions for continuing development. The exam may be taken up to three times.

Certificates will be issued by Career Step in accordance with the following achievement levels:

· Certificate of Participation, upon three failures of the final exam

· Certificate of Graduation, 85 to 89.99%

· Certificate of Graduation with Honors, 90 to 94.99%

· Certificate of Graduation with High Honors, 95 to 100%

All qualified students will be awarded a Career Step certificate.

PLATINUM INCLUDES:

Graduate Support Package:

· Personal Employment Consultations - Opportunities to visit with a Graduate Support counselor to develop career plans.

· Employment Opportunities Guide - Medical Coding companies in your area and across the U.S.

· Evaluation of resume or sales letter

· Referral Letter - A letter to accompany a resume to introduce Career Step to a potential employer.

· 1 Year Help Hotline after graduation -Toll Free assistance when you can't get help from your employer. This service is NOT a mentoring program and does not replace the specific support and direction generally provided by an employer. It does provide a supplemental alternative to the employer when help is not available from the employer or in cases where confusion or misunderstandings occur. Subject to the ongoing operation of Career Step as a school offering Inpatient/outpatient Medical Coding and Billing.

OPTIONAL ANNUAL UPDATE UPGRADE

This upgrade package is for students who have ordered and received access to a prior year's version of the content and associated reference materials and would like to upgrade to the current year's content and associated reference materials for ICD-9-CM, Medical Procedural Coding, and Skills Testing. This package includes the current version of the following:

· Online Access to current version of instruction materials

· Diagnostic Coding with ICD-9-CM

· Medical Procedural Coding

· Skills Testing

· Final Examination

Reference Books:

· HCPCS Level II Coding Expert (Professional Edition may be substituted at the discretion of Career Step)

· ICD-9-CM Coding Expert for Hospitals Volumes 1-3 (Professional Edition may be substituted at the discretion of Career Step)

· CPT Coding Professional (Standard Edition may be substituted at the discretion of Career Step)

· lngenix 90-day trial Encoder Pro Expert coding software**

**Subject to change based upon current supplier. This inclusion may be discontinued at any time.