Medical Coding Syllabus

Medical Coding Syllabus

  • Anatomy Structure of the human body to increase your understanding.
  • Physiology How the human body functions.
  • Medical definitions and terminology Includes pronunciation and use of medical prefixes.
  • Coding medical procedures What to code and how to prepare the forms.
  • Professional claim information How to set up medical claims for Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance companies, HMOs, PPOs, workers’ compensation and personal injury cases.
  • Practice You’ll get plenty of practice doing Medical Coding with personal consultation from your own instructor.

1. The World of Health Care

In this introductory lesson, students learn about the daily activities in US medical facilities. Students learn about the responsibilities of Medical coders and Billers, This lesson also discusses the many career opportunities available to medical coding and billing specialists.

2. Introduction to Medical Terminology: Word Parts

Students get their first taste of how they will use medical terms in their new careers. They learn about root words, prefixes and suffixes and learn how to derive word parts from medical terms. In addition, students practice using a medical dictionary.

3. Medical Terminology: Dividing and Combining Terms

Learn to divide and combine difficult medical words to help you understand and meanings of these words. Students also learn how these medical terms are used to describe diagnoses and procedures.

4. Medical Terminology: Abbreviations, Symbols and Special Terms

The last lesson on medical terminology teaches students to recognize common medical abbreviations, symbols and plural words. This lesson also discusses special terms such as eponyms, acronyms, homophones, and antonyms.

5. Documenting Medical Records

Students learn about the role medical records play in a coding specialist’s job. They explore the importance of documentation in medical records and learn to recognize the various types of dictation formats. This lesson also discusses how healthcare professionals manage medical records.

6. Medical Ethics

Concepts of ethics, compliance, fraud and abuse and teaches students how these concepts apply to medial coding specialists. Students also learn about the importance of confidentiality when dealing with medical records and discusses insurance audits and the legal concepts involved.

7. Diagnostic Coding

Students are introduced to the actual coding process. Students learn about the history of the International Classification of Diseases and the development of the ICD-9-CM coding system. Additionally, students learn to identify main terms and sub terms and describe coding pathways.

8. ICD-9-CM Coding Manual Introduction

This lesson discusses the structure of the coding manual as well as the purposes of the various volumes within the manual. Students learn to handle abbreviations, cross references, and punctuation when coding, and they gain an introduction to Volumes I and II of the ICD-9-CM.

9. ICD-9-CM Diagnosis Coding: Guidelines and Rules

In this lesson, students learn the guidelines and rules of the diagnosis coding process. Students learn how coders interact with the super bill and claim forms and how the forms relate to the ICD-9-CM. Basic coding exercises also allow students to practice what they’ve learned so far.

10. ICD-9-CM Coding from Infections to Blood Diseases

Student start coding diagnoses. Students learn about infections, parasitic diseases, and neoplasms, as well as how to code them. The lesson also discusses the coding of endocrine, nutritional, metabolic, and blood diseases.

11. ICD-9-CM Coding from Mental Disorders to the Respiratory System

Students get more practice with diagnosis coding as they learn about the nervous, circulatory, and respiratory systems. This lesson also teaches students about mental disorders and how to code these disorders.

12. ICD-9-CM Coding from the Digestive System to Pregnancy

In this lesson, students learn about the digestive and genitourinary systems. Students gain practice coding diagnoses related to childbirth, the puerperium and complications of pregnancy.

13. ICD-9-CM Coding from the Skin to Conditions of the Perinatal Period

This lesson teaches students about diagnosis coding of skin and subcutaneous tissue. Students also learn about the musculoskeletal system, congenital abnormalities, and conditions in the perinatal period, as well as how to code related diagnoses.

14. ICD-9-CM Coding from Symptoms to Complications

From this lessons, students practice coding symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions, as well as injuries and poisoning.

15. V Codes, E Codes and ICD-9-CM Coding Practicum

Students get to practice their new coding skills. This practicum allows students to apply their diagnosis coding knowledge in real-world scenarios. Students also learn how to apply V-codes and E-codes in coding situations.

 

First Grand test


1. CPT Coding

Students learn about the history of procedural coding and how to differentiate between CPT and HCPCS codes. This lesson also explains the structure and format of the CPT coding manual, as well as the basic steps of CPT coding.

2. CPT Coding from the Integumentary System

In this lesson, students learn to code procedures related to the integumentary system Coding Biopsises, skin lesions, excisions, burns, Breast procedures, skin grafts etc.

3. CPT Coding from the Reproductive Systems to the Operating Microscope

This lesson teaches students about the male and female reproductive systems. Students learn to code maternity and childbirth procedures, as well as procedures related to the endocrine, nervous, visual, and auditory systems. Students also learn coding for microscopic procedures.

4. CPT Coding for Radiology, Pathology, Medicine and Anesthesia

The last lesson in the pack teaches students about radiology terms, subsections, guidelines and coding radiology procedures. Guidelines and coding information for pathology and anesthesia are also included.

5. CPT Coding Evaluation and Management Services

This lesson introduces students to evaluation and management codes, an important area for outpatient coders. Additionally, the lesson covers documentation guidelines and evaluation and management level sections and modifiers.

6. Comprehensive CPT Evaluation and Management

Students continue to learn about evaluation and management coding in this lesson. In addition, students learn about the coding auditing process, as well as, how encounter forms are used in a coding specialist’s work.

7. Comprehensive Surgery Coding

In this lesson, students continue to practice procedure coding. They get a review of previously discussed CPT codes specific to surgery, a major area of outpatient medical coding.

8. Comprehensive Musculoskeletal coding

9. Comprehensive Digestive System Coding

10. Comprehensive Urology and Reproductive system coding:

11. Comprehensive Pulmonology and Cardiovascular coding.