Medical Coding Course Descriptions

MC 201: Medical Terminology
This course is focused on the building blocks of medical terminology: word roots, combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes. Word building, word defining, and pronunciation are key aspects of this course. Common pathology, common diagnostic tests and procedures, and abbreviations will be discussed. This course is a foundation for the medical coding profession.
MC 202: Anatomy and Physiology for Coding Professionals
The structure and function of the human body are the main focuses of this course. Living matter including cell physiology, organ function, and body system composition and interaction will be discussed. This will be done in a systemic, body system approach. Students will have a solid foundation and familiarity with the terms used to identify anatomical organs having completed the Medical Terminology course required for the Medical Coding Certificate.
MC 203: Pathophysiology and Pharmacotherapy
The pathophysiology portion of this course is focused on common disease processes, identifying signs and symptoms, common diagnostic testing, risk factors, common medical treatments, common surgical treatments, and alternative treatments. The pharmacotherapy portion of this course is focused on drug classification, drug action and interaction, metabolism, excretion, and the methods of drug delivery. Common side effects, challenges for delivery, and patient compliance will also be discussed.
MC 204: Information Technology for Health Care
This course is an introduction to common software used in the field of health information management (HIM). Topics include coding encoder software, health record tracking systems, and information processing and tracking software, such as e-HIM, electronic health record (EHR), and electronic medical record (EMR).
MC 205: Health Care Data
This course will examine the concept of taking health data typically gathered from a health record and presenting it as information. Focus will be on the concepts of data elements, data sets, data dictionaries, data presentation, data quality management, and the uses of health data. Governmental requirements for data reporting will be reviewed. Data recovery, data warehousing, data security, HIPAA regulations, privacy, and confidentiality are additional topics in this course. Case studies will be used to explore the current legal impact for health data collection and usage.
MC 206: Health Care Delivery Systems
The current U.S. health care environment and the various types of medical facilities will be discussed throughout this course. Acute care, ambulatory care, public health facilities, extended care facilities, and behavioral health will be examined by discussion of payment systems, governmental regulations, industry standards, accreditation bodies, and health care facility organization.
MC 207: International Classification of Diseases (ICD)
The U.S. system of ICD-9-CM will be introduced, discussed, and analyzed in this course. This classification coding system will be compared and contrasted to the Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System (HCPCS), ICD-10-CM, and ICD-10-PCS. For the introductory portion, background and history of the ICD system will be discussed. Additional course topics will include ICD coding guidelines, ICD coding conventions, DSM, ICD-O, and SNOMED. Students will be required to build practical application skills in code assignment from one-line diagnosis statements to more complex coding scenarios and case studies. This course will include diagnostic and procedural coding utilizing encoder software for ICD code assignment and diagnostic-related group (DRG) assignment.
MC 208: HCPCS Classification System
The course will explore the Healthcare Common Procedural Coding System (HCPCS) used for physician coding and reporting of other medical care and equipment. Course topics will include HCPCS background and history, HCPCS coding guidelines, unique components of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), and HCPCS level-two code assignment. Students will be required to build practical application skills in code assignment from one-line procedural statements to more complex coding scenarios and case studies. This course will include procedural coding encoder software usage for HCPCS code and ambulatory payment classification (APC) assignment.
MC 209: Reimbursement Methods
Topics for this course will include prospective payment systems, the DRG system, the APR-DRG system, ambulatory payment systems, physician payment systems, billing procedures, the managed care system, HMO models, the charge master, superbills, coding compliance, coding auditing, the claim process cycle, and claims management processes. Governmental regulations of false claims, fraud and abuse guidelines, and Stark I and II will also be discussed.
MC 210: Coding Externship Experience*
This course will require the student to apply all concepts covered in the Medical Coding Certificate program to the actual coding of various types of health records. Extensive use of coding classification manuals and reference materials will be required. Use of the coding encoder software to assign APCs and DRGs will be required. The determination and coding of principal diagnosis and principal procedure will be emphasized for acute care health records. The reporting of first-listed diagnosis and codes to identify history of illnesses will be emphasized for ambulatory health records. Case studies will be focused on the application of coding compliance concepts and coding auditing knowledge. Students will be required to demonstrate an entry-level knowledge and application of ICD-9-CM and HCPCS coding guidelines.

*This virtual externship (completed online in the same manner as other courses) provides students with the opportunity to apply the concepts covered in the Medical Coding Certificate program. It does not require students to seek a position. As part of the externship, students will utilize coding encoder software. Most employers prefer this kind of hands-on experience.