Medical coding and billing is a topic not for the faint of heart. This article will introduce you to the new online ethical CPD-accredited course (3 CEU), Introduction to Medical Coding & Billing.
Healthcare practitioners are often uncertain about the rates they may charge for their services. How medical practices are managed and, specifically, how rates and codes are applied during the billing process has become increasingly complex over time.
GoodX Courses created an introductory course to
- Bring those working in the industry up to date on best practices about coding and billing
- Make practical suggestions on how to manage and maintain successful coding and billing.
The course follows the flow of the Intro to Medical Coding & Billing diagram.
1.Survey
The course starts by surveying the history of coding and billing, the differences between coding and billing, the role-players involved and the role of tariff masters in
the industry.
2.Billing Structures
The course then delves deeper into billing structures. It explains the different types of billing structures in a practice and the different medical industry categories and disciplines. The differences between practice rates and scheme rates are discussed, and what to look out for in implementing the different rates in the healthcare practice.
3.Practice Billing Policy
Of great benefit to any practice is to write a practice billing policy. The what's and why of the policy are described, and how each section of the policy will provide clarity to all staff involved in coding and billing. It will also provide a strategy for implementing the policy and navigating the legal landscape.
4.Billing Rules and Guidelines
The next section of the course will explain the billing rules every practice needs to be aware of and the different types of tariffs that a practice may use when billing a patient. You will learn how tariffs can be calculated and get a basic understanding of ICD-10 coding. The concept of scheme-specific rules is explained. Since the correct order of billing influences the final account, examples are provided to draw attention to what should be considered by billing experts.
5.Billing Best Practices
After learning the theory of coding and billing, the course focuses on the practicalities of invoicing. The basics when gathering the information to optimise billing are explained to ensure your claims go through without rejection or resubmission.
6.The 5 W’s of Billing
The coding process is simplified using the 5 W’s of coding. This helps the billing expert to follow due process to optimise the outcome.
7.Billing Examples
The course provides billing examples and explanations so that learners can understand how to apply the theoretical concepts practically.
8.Tips and Tricks
The course ends with providing useful tips and tricks to help maximise your effectiveness as a billing expert.
Conclusion
Any person involved in a healthcare practice will find that the course provides a solid foundation to become well-versed in the language and skills of medical coding and billing. To enroll for the course, please visit courses.goodx.co.za . It is a self-service platform where you can register as a user, pay, and enroll by clicking on the Introduction to Medical Coding and Billing course listed on the homepage.
