Online Career Advancement (OCA)

A custom designed program for high school and GED graduates, and anyone who wants to get certified to advance in, or join, the medical coding profession. These courses will help participants earn the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Certified Coding Associate (CCA) designation and other professional coding credentials.

NOTE: The CCA certification only requires a high school diploma or GED.

The program is subsidized in an effort to address the critical shortage in the health care industry by allowing more affordable access to quality coding education. Participants receive access to a very successful coding certificate program developed for, and offered online by, a community college in Boston, Massachusetts with students from some of the largest and most prominent hospitals in the world. This is a limited time offer from Medical Career Prep.

• Learning is personalized to the participants unique requirements

• College instructor provides individualized support and career guidance

• Program duration is extended up to 2 years (normally 10 weeks per course)

• Program cost is subsidized to $499 ($1600 value)

This program provides foundation courses that enable participants to successfully pursue the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) CCA, CCS, and CCS-P certifications and the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) CPC, CPC-H, and CPC-P certifications.

The following courses are included (with extensive web-based resources and references):

Introduction to Medical Terminology:
This course covers medical terminology specific to the official ICD-9-CM and CPT coding conventions top-level categories; includes eponyms, human body systems, disease classifications, medical procedures and specialists terminology. Also included are overviews of ICD-9-CM and CPT coding terminology. This online course is designed for those planning to pursue certification as medical coders, billing specialist, transcriptionist; or in pursuing other professional positions in the healthcare industry. Access to numerous web-based resources and references, practice quizzes, and support from within your own private and secure e-learning portal; includes access to online medical term glossary with audible pronunciations. This course is accessible from any Internet connection anywhere in the world.

Introduction to Medical Billing:
This online course is designed for those interested in, or planning to pursue, national certification as a medical coding specialist. The course covers types of health care insurance and terminology; reimbursement forms processing and terminology; the billing and coding interrelationship and dependencies; software and equipment; analyzing provider and patient information; the hospital billing process; various billing scenarios; the CMS-1500 and UB-04 claim forms; Medicare fraud & abuse; Medicaid; evaluation & management; legal issues; and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This course provides access to numerous supplemental resources and references, practice quizzes, and support from within your own private and secure e-learning portal. This course is accessible from any Internet connection anywhere in the world.

Introduction to Medical Coding ICD-9-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II:

This course introduces the official coding guidelines and procedures covering the most common and complex International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision; Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnostic coding issues; covers basic procedures, nomenclature, categories, and evaluation & management services of the American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding system; includes access to an ICD-9-CM searchable database for references and additional practice. This course will also present an overview of the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II. This course provides access to numerous supplemental resources and references, practice quizzes, and support from within your own private and secure e-learning portal. This course is accessible from any Internet connection anywhere in the world. Current official ICD-9-CM and CPT manuals are recommended; not required.

Advanced Medical Coding ICD-9-CM:

This course provides in-depth and comprehensive coverage of the entire range ICD-9-CM codes; Lessons are presented according to the official World Health Organization (WHO) coding guidelines and standards. End-of-lesson exercises, practice quizzes, and coding tips reinforce participant knowledge retention; includes access to a complete and up-to-date ICD-9-CM searchable database for references and additional practice. Real life ICD-9-CM coding and diagnostic problems are presented with comprehensive solutions. This course provides access to numerous supplemental resources and references, practice quizzes, and support from within your own private and secure e-learning portal. This course is accessible from any Internet connection anywhere in the world. Current official ICD-9-CM manuals are required.

Advanced Medical Coding CPT:

This course provides in-depth and comprehensive coverage of the CPT coding system by section; covers all sections including surgery, anesthesia, radiology, pathology & laboratory, medicine, modifiers, and detailed correct coding procedures. Lessons are organized according to the official American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) manual. End-of-lesson exercises, practice quizzes, and coding tips reinforce participant knowledge retention. This course provides access to numerous supplemental resources and references, practice quizzes, and support from within your own private and secure e-learning portal. This course is accessible from any Internet connection anywhere in the world. The current official CPT manual is required.

AHIMA Certified Coding Associate (CCA) Exam Review:
This course provides a comprehensive integration of the concepts covered in the introductory and advanced billing and coding courses with the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam specifications according to the official requirements of the American Health Information and Management Association (AHIMA). The course includes study guides and practice quizzes covering the six domains of the CCA exam competency statements; Health Records and Data Content ; Health Information Requirements and Standards; Clinical Classification Systems; Reimbursement Methodologies; Information and Communication Technologies; and Privacy, Confidentiality, Legal, and Ethical Issues. Also included are CCA mock quizzes and a one-hundred question practice exam. This course provides access to numerous supplemental resources and references, practice quizzes, and support from within your own private and secure e-learning portal. This course is accessible from any Internet connection anywhere in the world. Current official ICD-9-CM and CPT manuals are required.

Program fee is $499 for  up to two years of personalized, instructor supported, online training.

This program has enrollment limits. Please register as early as possible. Students are responsible for the cost of text books.