Main subjects covered include: Medical Billing, Medical Coding and Electronic Health Records (EHR/EMR).  Students will learn how to use International Classification of Disease, 9th version (ICD-9 codes), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT-4) and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS). Included in the above are V codes, E codes, modifiers, CDT-4 Dental Codes and the use of manual claims such as CMS-1500 (formerly called Health Care Financing Administration, or HCFA) forms. 

The Medical Office component of the program covers HIPAA Regulations, Referrals, Pre-certifications, Coordination of Benefits (COB)’s, Explanation of Benefits (EOB)’s, Insurance Carrier coverages, ethics, OSHA & OIG.  Software covered includes Medisoft Billing Software, EHR Software, Microsoft Word.  The course also covers Medical Terminology (prefixes, suffixes, body systems, abbreviations and root words), Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) to tie it all together.

In addition, the program utilizes materials written by Carol Buck, considered to be the authority on Medical Billing and Coding.  This helps to prepare you thoroughly for your certification exams. Our program teaches the body systems individually, using each body system's terminology and anatomy to code with.  The program has an emphasis on CPT coding, which is the most difficult coding and the subject of 2/3 of the CPC exam questions.

Graduates are able to sit for their CPC, CMAA, CBCS, CEHRS & CCP exams.  For more information on the certification exams, please click here.

Merit's Billing & Coding instructor is an industry leader, with over 5 years experience in the field.  His credentials include all of the same credentials that our students sit for, which is the only way students can be properly prepared...by someone who has been there! 

Students are not required to have medical experience to enroll. This program teaches to the secondary level, prepares you to pass multiple national exams and enter the ‘in demand’, growing Medical Field!