Medical Billing and Coding Diploma Program
The Medical Billing and Coding online diploma program prepares you for an entry-level position as a medical biller and/or coder in a variety of healthcare settings, such as physician offices, multispecialty clinics, nursing homes, surgery centers, healthcare systems, and medical billing companies. The accuracy and timeliness of your work will be crucial to providers’ financial operations, and you serve as a valuable member of the healthcare team.
Online Medical Billing and Coding Program Overview
The online Medical Billing and Coding program is intended to be a first step toward a career in an outpatient healthcare setting.
Graduates of the program will be able to:
- Demonstrate entry-level skills, knowledge and behavior competence in administrative content, functions, and procedures, including current medical coding, completing and submitting claims to insurance carriers, and related reimbursement activities.
- Apply management and leadership principles and concepts in healthcare organizations.
- Engage in ethical behavior and decision-making as a healthcare manager.
- Create plans for ongoing professional development and advancing the profession.
- Apply fundamental principles, regulations, and statutes for performing within legal and ethical boundaries.
- Demonstrate effective communication and relationship management skills in healthcare organizations.
- Demonstrate effective teamwork through collaboration.
Online Medical Billing and Coding Curriculum
The online Medical Billing and Coding diploma program consists of 60 total credits. You will take major core classes and general education classes. Please refer to the course list at the bottom of this page for more information.
The diploma program is 100% online, so you can take classes from the comfort of your home. That said, the program utilizes hands-on learning activities in a remote setting to provide you with the knowledge and skills you need for the healthcare billing and coding profession. There is also a virtual practicum experience at the end of the program to prepare you to work in a medical office setting.
All academic courses are 100% online and subject to minimum class size requirements.
Medical Billing and Coding Major Core
37.5 credits
General Education Core
22.5 credits
Course availability is subject to minimum class size requirements.
Medical Billing and Coding Certification Options
The Medical Billing and Coding diploma program doesn’t provide certifications. However, you will have the knowledge and background to pursue certifications through professional organizations such as the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC) or the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Online Medical Billing and Coding Career Outcomes
Medical billers and coders play a vital role in the connection between health care providers, patients, and insurance companies. The online Medical Billing and Coding program sets you up for entry-level employment as a medical biller and coder in a healthcare setting. Medical billers and coders complete insurance claims, code patient diagnoses and also code for medical, surgical, and diagnostic services, submit medical claims according to government and insurance regulations, and coordinate communications between healthcare providers, insurance companies, and patients.
In addition to medical coding and billing specialist jobs, this online diploma program prepares you for employment as:
Medical records coordinator
- Medical records technician
- Health information specialist
- Medical records clerk
- Health information clerk
- Medical records analyst
Medical billing and coding falls under the Medical Records and Health Information Technician career category. There were over 215,000 total jobs in 2018, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects much faster than average growth through 2028.
Who Is a Good Candidate for the Online Medical Billing and Coding Program?
If you want a healthcare career that you can start in under two years, consider the online Medical Billing and Coding program. The diploma program offers maximum flexibility in a remote setting to prepare you for work.
You must have the following traits and skills to succeed in medical billing and coding:
- Attention to detail: Accuracy is crucial when it comes to managing patient data and information.
- Data analysis skills: You must follow and understand patient data and information to code them into medical records.
- Technical skills: You need to be comfortable with computers, and you also need the background to learn electronic health record systems.
- Communication skills: Communication is important in any medical office. You’ll connect with nearly all members of the medical team.
Course Listing (60 Credits)
HT1000 – Introduction to Health Information Management and Health Care
ME1140 – Medical Terminology for Health Professions
ME2211 – Human Pharmacology
ME2250 – Medical Law and Ethics
ME2260 – Medical Records Management
ME2515 – Introduction to Pathophysiology
ME2611 – Healthcare Coding and Billing I
ME2612 – Healthcare Coding and Billing II
ME2630 – Medical Billing & Coding Capstone
ME2650 – Medical Billing & Coding Practicum
Communications
EN1150 – Composition I
Science
SC1221 – Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology with Lab
General Education
CS1202 – Strategies for Professionals OR
CS1204 – Advanced Strategics for Professionals
CS1302 – Consumer Mathematics
CS2080 – Career Management
Course availability is subject to minimum class size requirements.
