WHAT IS MEDICAL CODING?

Medical coding is pretty simple really. Just imagine that you could assign a number to every disease, disorder, ailment, medical complaint, or condition, and use another number to every procedure used to diagnose and treat those diseases, disorders or ailments, and you’d have “CODING.” That, essentially, is what medical coding is all about. The translation of diagnostic and treatment information, into standardized numerical codes.

What purpose does this codification serve? Good question! Well, one of the primary benefits of using codes to describe what might otherwise be pages upon pages of voluminous information, is that it allows for the production of simple insurance claim forms that contain all of the information about a patient’s condition and treatment to just a couple of lines of an insurance form. The codes are designed for standardization of basic diagnostic and treatment information, and are used to compile timely medical information for private and governmental entities to formulate statistical data on diseases, populations and allows some predictability on outcomes.

Through the use of medical coding, computerized processing of insurance claims is made possible, saving millions of man-hours which would otherwise be required (on the part of the insurance carrier) to read through and translate the descriptive information from the doctor, prior to the processing of your insurance benefits.

So, how does the process really work? Well, it all starts when you walk into your doctor’s office. You have a complaint, or perhaps you are simply there for a routine checkup. The doctor conducts an interview relating to what you’re there for, and conducts an examination then makes a diagnosis and provides a plan of treatment. After you leave the office, the doctor typically makes a chart note, which may be dictated or hand written, from which a medical coder then translates the gist of the “encounter” into code. The codes used of course completely drive the billing part of the medical practice.

The diagnostic codes employed are termed ICD (International Classification of Diseases) and CPT codes (Current Procedural Technology used by providers to describe their service).

Coding requires a good knowledge of medical terminology which training is included in the standard coding course.

Great tools are available too! The best software for coders is ALPHAII which is available with your course or your practice. it provides comprehensive ICD and CPT coding assistance, which both beginning and experienced coders find indispensable. The AlphaII System can be ordered right along with the course, or you may choose to come back and add it later.

Meditech, the developer of the coding programs, has been in the Medical Coding business since 1969, and was one of the very first companies in the United States to begin offering medical coding training courses online via the Internet. Students can take medical coding training online, from the comfort of home and receive a superior education with total control over the time elements of when to study. Online learning saves you thousands of dollars over traditional school tuition as well.

Becoming a medical coder does not require an advanced college degree, nor does it require an enormous investment of capital to get started in practice. Meditech has more than 40 years experience in the medical transcription, coding, and billing business — we know how to train you, and we know how to help you achieve your goals.

Questions? We understand how valuable your time is, so if you are in a hurry, just give us a call. No high pressure sales
people will answer, just friendly counselors, 888-771-1902, or fill out this form for an enrollment coordinator to contact you – it only takes a minute or two more.

Want Even More Info? Medical Coding FAQ & A.

 

ENROLLMENT

$937 for the ICD-9 Medical Coding Training

$349 for the ICD-10 Medical Coding Training

$1216 for both

 


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