2024-2025 Pierce College Catalog 
    
    Oct 09, 2024  
2024-2025 Pierce College Catalog

Medical Billing and Coding (AAS) Course Map


Created by Pierce faculty, this map outlines the initial coursework for this career field. It provides you a clear path to complete your degree by listing a specific set of courses relevant to your program and career. The map is designed with the appropriate number of credits and meets degree requirements. Courses are organized in a recommended sequence; please schedule accordingly. If a course is unavailable, select the next appropriate course within the sequence. For each course, a purpose statement explains how the content relates to your career field. On this map, there may be instances when you will be required to select a course from several options. Use these purpose statements and notes to choose the course that best aligns with your interests and needs. You will also find action items to complete to assure you progress and graduate on time. While this map is a great guide to courses required to complete the Associate in Applied Science Medical Billing and Coding, you are responsible for fulfilling all degree requirements. Questions? Your Success Network is ready to help you!

 

Action Item: Meet with advisor to create degree plan 

Meet with your advisor to choose the courses that meet your workplace goals. 

CIP Code: 51.0716


ctcLink Plan Code: MASBCAPT


Total Credits: 93


Introduction to Keyboarding


(Only needed if no previous keyboarding experience. Meet with your advisor to determine if you need these courses.)  

1. Business English I


  • Course purpose: This course will help you build the skills needed to prepare grammatically correct business documents. You will develop skills in editing documents for grammatical correctness. Job applicants must be able to write coherent messages with correct grammar for internal and external communication. 

2. Computer Application Lab


A total of 9 Computer Application Lab credits will be required to meet the requirements of this certificate.

  • Course purpose: This course offers an introductory experience to the Windows Operating System and File Explorer to manage files. Upon successful completion of this course, students will have mastered the features of Word to align with the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) objectives enabling them to take the MOS exam. The MS Word objectives enable students to perform several Word tasks, such as creating and managing documents, formatting text, paragraphs, and sections, creating tables and lists, applying references and formatting objects.  

  • Course purpose: Students will master the features of Excel to align with the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) objectives enabling them to take the MOS Exam. The MS Excel objectives enable students to create, manage, and distribute professional spreadsheets and workbooks for a variety of specialized purposes and situations. 

3. College Success


  • Course purpose: A foundational course to explore and affirm a career choice and build upon the skills, knowledge, and resources that will support you at Pierce College and beyond.

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  • Note

    • Successfully completing either COLLG 110 or COLLG 115 will fulfill the College Success requirement. 
    • A COLLG 110 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 110 course and a COLLG 115 course grade can only be replaced with a grade from another COLLG 115 course. 

Action Item: Meet with Advisor


Use your Success Network! In your first quarter, meet with your advisor to revisit your career and transfer path, adjust your goals as needed, and plan for your next steps.

4. Keyboard Development and Document Formatting


Take two credits one quarter followed by the remaining two credits the following quarter. All four courses are required to complete the degree.  

5. Ten-Key Mastery


  • Course purpose: Proficient in 10-key by touch so you have the skills for data entry.  Employees are often required to enter data in spreadsheets or in other software. Speed and accuracy of this skill are highly desired by employers. 

6. Business English II


  • Course purpose: Further study and practice with the writing process to create effective business memoranda, letters, and short reports. You will continue to build a strong business vocabulary and fluency with punctuation and rules. Job applicants must be able to write coherent messages with correct grammar for internal and external communication. 

7. Business Math


8. Introduction to the Medical Office


  • Course purpose: You are introduced to topics that occur in a Medical Office setting. In this course you learn about the history of healthcare systems, overview of types of healthcare facilities, roles and responsibilities of healthcare professionals, importance of teamwork and process improvement, as well as strategies for exploring the job market. 

9. Medical Terminology I


  • Course purpose: You are introduced to word forms, pre-fixes, suffixes, and root words. You will analyze medical terms through the knowledge of the Greek and Latin roots, prefixes, and suffixes. You will practice pronunciation and spelling of medical terms. You will learn how to utilize a medical dictionary and other references, as well as the formation of nouns, adjectives, and plurals of medical words. Knowledge of medical terminology is beneficial to the medical office administrative assistant when communicating with patients and medical clinicians. This course is broken into two 5-credit courses that cover all the systems of the body. 

10. Microsoft Outlook


  • Course purpose: You will demonstrate skills in each tool utilized in Outlook: Calendar, email, scheduling, tasks, etc. which most offices are using these days.

11. Medical Terminology II


  • Course purpose: Knowledge of medical terminology is beneficial to the medical office administrative assistant when communicating with patients and medical clinicians. This course is broken into two 5-credit courses that cover all the systems of the body. 

12. Office Procedures


  • Course purpose: This course prepares you with hard and soft skills necessary for success in an office. In addition, you will synthesize and apply content previously acquired while role playing scenarios that will occur during an average office workday. 

13. Human Biology


  • Course purpose: You will gain a comprehensive study of the human body, its structure, and its function. A non-lab course appropriate for non-science majors. Knowledge of anatomy and physiology is beneficial to the medical office administrative assistant when communicating with patients and medical clinicians. 

Action Item: Meet with Advisor


Meet with internship course instructor to prepare for BTECA 246/247.  

14. Records Management


  • Course purpose: Teaches you the lifecycle and management of paper and electronic records in an office setting. You will learn to manage records to keep an office organized and for individuals to retrieve records quickly and maintain integrity of data.

Action Item: Apply for Graduation for the Medical Billing and Coding Degree AAS


Way to go! It is time to apply for graduation. Visit the Pierce College Graduation website for details.

15. Diagnosis Coding


16. Medical Claims and Insurance Management


  • Course purpose: You are introduced to a variety of medical forms used in industry: CMS-1500, UB-92, referrals, and referral requests. You will gain an understanding of documentation guidelines and completion of medical claim forms for Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, Worker’s Compensation and Labor & Industries.

17. CPT Coding


18. Electronic Health Records


  • Course purpose: You complete common work tasks and practice data entry while creating a variety of electronic medical records (EMRs) in both inpatient and outpatient settings using training software. You will gain an understanding of existing and evolving government-driven standards and regulations as they apply to the healthcare environment. 

19. Advanced Coding and Reimbursement


20. Cooperative Work Experience


Choose one

  • Course purpose: You will gain practice in a workplace setting, while networking, establishing work experience for your resume, and hopefully ultimately gaining a job, which is what most students in the professional technical field want.

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  • Or

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  • Course purpose: This course is an option for students in lieu of the Cooperative Work-based Learning Experience (BTECA 246). This course is designed to prepare students for a job in their specific field of study whether it be a medical office or a general office. Students will implement a variety of the skills they have learned throughout their degree such as job searching skills, teamwork, communication skills, goal setting, time management, and leadership.  

Total Credits 93


CIP Code: 51.0716


ctcLink Plan Code: MASBCAPT


Program Code: 565A


Program Outcomes


  1. Work independently and in diverse teams. 
  2. Interact courteously and responsibly with diverse people in the office environment. 
  3. Manage time and multiple tasks appropriate to the office. 
  4. Demonstrate commitment to the office profession and life-long learning. 
  5. Apply technical skills to meet industry standards in the office. 
  6. Communicate effectively using written, oral, and visual communication skills with diverse people in the office environment. 
  7. Employ software and/or technology to manage information. 
  8. Conduct effective web searches; critically analyze web sites and related professional articles. 
  9. Effectively complete tasks and solve problems that require computation in the workplace by utilizing knowledge of business math processes, computer application functions, and accounting procedures.  
  10. Identify and understand the role of industry-specific professional organizations. 
  11. Communicate and resolve conflict respectfully and effectively while demonstrating the skill to offer and receive feedback. 
  12. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of medical billing and coding rules and regulations. 
  13. Demonstrate knowledge of the United States Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). 
  14. Understand and properly define medical terminology and anatomy. 
  15. Model positive ethical behavior as it impacts workplace success. 
  16. Display proactive behavior in project development and completion. 
  17. Evaluate the impact of personal attendance and meeting deadlines.