Medical Billing and Coding Program

Medical Billing and Coding | Los Angeles, OC & Ontario, CA

Today’s health care system demands a growing number of team members with the skills to keep things on track.

At American Career College, our Medical Billing and Coding program focuses on preparing you to interact with patients and insurance companies as you accurately record procedures and discuss payment options.

Federal legislation mandating individual coverage may increase the number of health insurance customers, including high-risk individuals who are more likely to file claims. This is expected to increase the demand for claims adjusters to determine which treatments are approved and how much the company will pay.*

PICK UP THE PACE! Want to jump start your career in medical billing and coding? Our accelerated Medical Billing and Coding program allows you to earn your college diploma in as little as 9 months.

Looking for the right medical billing and coding school? ACC’s Medical Billing and Coding program emphasizes hands-on learning and real-life experience. Prepare to interact with patients and insurance companies as you accurately record procedures and discuss payment options.

Find a medical billing and coding program near you. Our program is available at our three Southern California campuses: Los Angeles, Ontario, and Anaheim.

This program is taught in a blended format combining online classes and only 2 days a week of in-person instruction.

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-2024 Edition

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"Since I don't like the sight of blood and my typing skills are excellent, I decided to train to become a medical biller. That decision changed my life. American Career College helped me get an externship and I was hired upon graduating!"

- Timothy R. '11 Medical Billing & Coding Graduate

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Overview
Careers After I Graduate
What Will I Learn?
What Will I Be Trained To Do?
FAQs

Medical Billing and Coding Training Program Overview

The American Career College Medical Billing and Coding program is designed to help you learn how to use databases, industry software and various reference materials as you train for the critical responsibility of quickly and accurately recording and reporting patient information.

Upon successful completion of the school's program and earning your medical billing and coding diploma, graduates may pursue entry-level positions and perform many of these tasks:

Work on the business side of dental or medical offices
Secure patient information
Work with insurance companies
Submit and monitor billings for payment
And perform many other important skills^1,2

American Career College's dynamic medical billing and coding classes and curriculum are designed to help you become proficient on current industry software, forms and terminology. Graduates of this program may pursue entry-level positions such as an Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerk, or Medical Secretary.

Tuition!

Our admissions advisors and financial aid advisors are here to support you. They can help you figure out the cost of medical billing and coding school and help you explore financial aid options.

To learn more about ACC’s Medical Billing and Coding program cost, access our tuition info.

Financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.

The focus is on your success!

The goal of our school's program is to help you graduate with the confidence and qualifications to begin your career in the field of Medical Billing and Coding.

¹California Employment Development Department Occupation Profile

²Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Records and Health Information Specialists

Find a medical billing and coding school near you! Our accredited Medical Billing and Coding program is available at our three Southern California campuses:

Careers After I Graduate

As the healthcare industry expands, experienced and qualified medical billers and coders will continue to be essential to keeping offices running smoothly. Medical billers and coders can work in a variety of settings including:

Doctors' Offices
General medical and surgical hospitals
Clinics and Other Health Care Facilities
Dentists' Offices
Insurance Companies¹

A few interesting statistics about medical billing and coding careers:

The number of older people is growing, and older people visit doctor’s offices more than younger people.*

Many area employers are very familiar with the quality of ACC's health care training programs and our school's track record for preparing confident, qualified professionals for rewarding careers.

¹California Employment Development Department Occupation Profile

What Will I Learn?

Courses in the school's program are offered in a blended format—as a convenient, flexible combination of online and on-campus classes. The American Career College Medical Billing and Coding class curriculum is divided into standalone learning units called class modules, which include:

Introduction to Computer and Health Care Systems – In these courses, you will gain an overview of electronic health records, data exchange and the commonly available software tools used in today's health care systems. Ultimately, you will be able to describe the financing, organization, regulatory and delivery systems of different healthcare services.
Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology – Coursework for this class module examines the systems of the body with an emphasis placed on the disease process affecting the human body. You will build your knowledge of common medical terms related to major disease processes, diagnostic procedures, laboratory tests, abbreviations, drugs and treatment of modalities.
Billing and Coding – Coding and Diagnosis – This course includes an introduction to Systemized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED), students will be asked to conduct a brief overview of its role in the health care delivery system as the basis for an electronic health record. You will also examine case studies and the use of more complex coding assignments.
Pharmacotherapy and Introduction to Health Care management – These courses focus on understanding the action of drugs, including the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs by the body. You will be introduced to the generic components of the use and structure of healthcare data and data sets. You will also become familiarized with components relative to primary and secondary record systems.
Billing and Coding – Reimbursement Procedures – In this course, you will study the use of coded data and health information in reimbursement and payment systems appropriate to all healthcare settings and managed care. Content includes contemporary prospective payment systems and key health plans, charge master maintenance and evaluation of fraudulent billing practices.
Billing and Coding – Identification and Procedures – In these courses, you will develop an understanding of coding and classification systems in order to assign valid diagnostic and/or procedures codes. By the end of this course, you should feel comfortable using hands-on labs as well as logic-based computerized encoding systems with coding reference software.
Introduction to Claims Examiner & Medical Software Applications – In these courses, you will gain an understanding of claims examiner and medical software applications. You'll also learn the importance of reviewing claims made against insurance companies as well as the difference between claims adjusters and claims examiners. Computer software tools will be utilized to deepen your understanding of public reporting, storage and retrieval, as well as identification of issues pertaining to various types of encoder software.
Medical Billing and Coding Externship – Working under the direct supervision of qualified personnel at the externship site, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and skills presented throughout the training program and gain valuable real-life experience in the billing and coding field. You must complete this externship to graduate and earn your college diploma.

What Will I Do as a Medical Biller?

Once you have completed your American Career College training and earned your college diploma, you'll be ready to pursue exciting entry-level career opportunities in the field of medical billing and coding. On the job, you'll use a wide variety of skills from basic human anatomy to personal computing.

As a Medical Biller, day-to-day responsibilities may include* :

Protect the security of medical records to ensure that confidentiality is maintained.
Review records for completeness, accuracy and compliance with regulations.
Retrieve patient medical records for physicians, technicians, or other medical personnel.
Release information to persons and agencies according to regulations.
Plan, develop, maintain and operate a variety of health record indexes and storage and retrieval systems to collect, classify, store and analyze information.
Enter data, such as demographic characteristics, history and extent of disease, diagnostic procedures and treatment into computer.

You'll be on your way!

Even after you are employed, ACC's Career Services team will remain committed to providing you with the resources, support and personalized assistance you need to keep your career on track.

*California Employment Development Department OCC Guide, Medical Records and Health Information Technicians in California

FAQs

A Day in the Life of a Medical Biller and Coder

As a Medical Biller and Coder, you'll handle the important business details to keep the office running smoothly. You'll interact with patients and their insurance companies to accurately record procedures and provide payment options.

Here are some things you may do:
Work with insurance companies
Assign codes to each diagnosis and procedure
Determine and discuss billing and reimbursement options with patients
Keep records on patients' health

What Will I Be Trained to Do as a Medical Biller and Coder?

Medical billers and health claims examiners interact with patients and insurance companies to accurately record procedures and discuss payment options. Students in our medical billing and coding program will be trained to do the following:

Code a patient’s medical information for reimbursement purposes
Assign diagnosis and procedure codes
Perform secretarial duties using knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures ^{1, 2}

¹California Employment Development Department Occupation Profile, Medical Secretaries

²California Employment Development Department OCC Guide, Medical Records and Health Information Technicians

Am I a Good Fit for the Medical Billing and Coding Program?

If you’re interested in a career on the business side of healthcare, medical billing and coding might be a good fit for you.

Here are some of the top skills and attributes that make for a great medical biller and coder:

Active listening – Medical billers need to efficiently communicate with patients, doctors, and insurance companies, this includes active listening and understanding.

Service orientation - A great healthcare worker is one with a passion for helping patients and for providing the best care possible.

Complex problem solving – Are you good at logic puzzles? Medical billers often need to review information, evaluate viable options, and implement solutions.

Time management – A good medical biller manages their time in order to process patient information in a timely manner.

Communication – Medical billers often need to use their knowledge of medical terminology and procedures to communicate with both patients and insurance companies.

Where Can I Work Once I Obtain My Diploma in Medical Billing & Coding?

Medical billers and health claims examiners can work in a variety of settings, including:

Physicians’ offices
Dentists’ offices
General medical and surgical hospitals
Offices of other health practitioners¹

¹California Employment Development Department Occupation Profile, Medical Secretaries

What Will I Learn in the Medical Billing & Coding Program?

Introduction to Computer and Health Care Systems – In these courses, you will gain an overview of electronic health records, data exchange and the commonly available software tools used in today's health care systems. Ultimately, you will be able to describe the financing, organization, regulatory and delivery systems of different healthcare services.

Anatomy, Physiology and Pathophysiology – Coursework for this class module examines the systems of the body with an emphasis placed on the disease process affecting the human body. You will build your knowledge of common medical terms related to major disease processes, diagnostic procedures, laboratory tests, abbreviations, drugs and treatment of modalities.

Billing and Coding – Coding and Diagnosis – This course includes an introduction to Systemized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED), students will be asked to conduct a brief overview of its role in the health care delivery system as the basis for an electronic health record. You will also examine case studies and the use of more complex coding assignments.

Pharmacotherapy and Introduction to Health Care management – These courses focuses on understanding the action of drugs, including the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs by the body. You will be introduced to the generic components of the use and structure of healthcare data and data sets. You will also become familiarized with components relative to primary and secondary record systems.

Billing and Coding – Reimbursement Procedures – In this course, you will study the use of coded data and health information in reimbursement and payment systems appropriate to all healthcare settings and managed care. Content includes contemporary prospective payment systems and key health plans, charge master maintenance and evaluation of fraudulent billing practices.

Billing and Coding – Identification and Procedures – In these courses, you will develop an understanding of coding and classification systems in order to assign valid diagnostic and/or procedures codes. By the end of this course, you should feel comfortable using hands-on labs as well as logic-based computerized encoding systems with coding reference software.

Introduction to Claims Examiner & Medical Software Applications – In these courses, you will gain an understanding of claims examiner and medical software applications. You'll also learn the importance of reviewing claims made against insurance companies as well as the difference between claims adjusters and claims examiners. Computer software tools will be utilized to deepen your understanding of public reporting, storage and retrieval, as well as identification of issues pertaining to various types of encoder software.

Medical Billing and Coding Externship – Working under the direct supervision of qualified personnel at the externship site, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge and skills presented throughout the training program and gain valuable real-life experience in the billing and coding field. You must complete this externship to graduate and earn your college diploma.

For a complete description of coursework in these modules, please refer to the ACC Catalog.

How Long Will It Take to Get My Diploma in Medical Billing & Coding?

Students can earn their diploma to become a medical biller and health claims examiner in as little as 9 months.

How Much is Tuition for the Medical Billing & Coding Program?

Our admissions advisors and financial aid advisors are here to support you. They can help you figure out the medical billing and coding school cost and help you explore financial aid options.

To learn more about ACC’s Medical Billing and Coding program cost, access our tuition info.

Is Financial Aid Available for the Medical Billing & Coding Program?

Yes, financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.

Will I Get Real-World Training?

Yes! ACC's medical billing and coding program includes a 220-hour externship which gives students the opportunity to demonstrate and reinforce the knowledge and skills they acquired learning hands-on throughout the training program.

Want more details about the Medical Billing and Coding Program?

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