Course Descriptions

Note: This course is best taken together with AH-111.

Quickly master the basics of the insurance billing process. Learn the forms and information to be maintained, how to submit insurance claims following third-party reimbursement regulations, and important tips for Medicare and private carriers. Textbook(s) required. 24 hrs.

Prerequisite: AH-110.
Note: This course is best taken together with AH-110

Practice basic accounting concepts for medical and/or hospital facilities. Learn how to record charges for medical services, post transactions and payments, and manage accounts receivables from patients’ and insurance companies. Textbook(s) required. 24 hrs.

Prerequisite: AH-958 – Pharmacology, Theory and Calculations

As a technician, you will receive written prescriptions or requests for refills and electronic prescriptions from the health care facility. Working alongside the pharmacist, you may retrieve, count, pour, weigh, measure, and sometimes mix the medications. Once the prescription is prepared, you will price and file the prescription, prepare insurance claims, and stock and check inventory. Hospital technicians have varying responsibilities. They read patients’ charts, then prepare and deliver medications to patients upon approval of the pharmacist. Technicians often assemble a 24-hour supply of medications for patients, packaging and labeling each dose. Textbook(s) required. 40 hrs.

(formerly AH-119 with Customer Service Skills)

This informational course offers an introduction to both Medicare and Medicaid entitlement programs. Learn eligibility requirements, program benefits and guidelines regarding claims processing, in addition to crosswalk stipulations. Class will go over reimbursement regulations, utilization review, and appeals process levels as well as the varying types of managed care insurance plans, such as HMOs, PPOs, POS and others. The course will also cover most current Worker’s Compensation and No-Fault forms, rules and regulations. Textbook required. 22 hrs.

This course will introduce the concepts of insurance verification, the drug formulary in relation to coverage and insurance reimbursement, and phone techniques and billing procedures for pharmacy technicians in hospitals, mass merchandisers, retail drug stores and privately owned pharmacies. A majority of pharmacy technicians have the responsibility of counseling patients by phone or in person regarding the benefits and limits of their insurance coverage in relation to prescribed medications. The computerized inputting of all patient information will also be covered.
In addition, this course covers the pharmacy technician’s legal and ethical responsibilities. Topics include but are not limited to criminal law in regard to illegal distribution of medications, altering a patient’s prescribed medication, falsifying patients’ medical records and committing insurance fraud. Civil lawsuits can result if a prescription is filled incorrectly without intention to harm, or an incorrect dosage is entered into either the patient’s medical record or the pharmacy’s computerized system. The need for liability insurance and the established codes of ethics set by the AAPC will be discussed. Textbooks required. 20 hrs.

(Conducted in a computer lab) 3 hrs.

(As of spring 2016, all NEW students are required to take this course. For all other students, this course is highly recommended.)

Every health care employee who comes in contact with a patient, family member, physician, as well as medical, administrative and ancillary personnel will create an impression – favorable or unfavorable. Everything should be done to make sure that first and subsequent impressions are positive. This course is designed to increase the effectiveness of health care employees’ communication skills and promote a high level of professionalism. The seven principles of effective customer service, how to make a good first impression, how to diffuse a volatile situation, developing customer trust through empathy, and the importance of active listening and cultural sensitivity are among the course topics. 8 hrs.

This course is an introduction to the structure and function of the human body. Instruction is based on a systems approach, with a review of each anatomical site and accompanying medical terminology. Also introduced are the pathological diagnoses of diseases based on various examinations of organs and tissues as well as surgical procedures and common disorders in relation to body systems. Textbook required. 30 hrs.

Prerequisite: AH-101, AH-122, AH-110, AH-111 or field experience

CPT-4 codes are required by insurance carriers for an accurate record of medical and clinical services rendered. Learn current procedural terminology (CPT) coding basics and descriptions of procedures/services rendered for physicians as well as other medical professionals. Together with ICD-10 codes, insurers interpret CPT-4 codes in order to pay insurance claims. Prescribed guidelines for accuracy and maximum revenue reimbursement will also be covered. Textbook(s) required. 36 hrs.

Prerequisite: AH-101, AH-122, AH-110, AH-111, or field experience.

As of October 1, 2015, ICD-10 coding has replaced ICD-9 coding as an upgraded diagnostic coding system to be used by all health care providers. ICD-10 now consists of two parts: ICD-10-CM for diagnosis coding and ICD-10-PCS for operative procedure coding. This course is a necessary starter class for medical personnel who assign diagnostic codes for medical billing and charting purposes. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) arranges diseases and injuries into coded groups. Together with CPT-4 codes, ICD-10 codes are used by insurance companies interpret to pay claims and record statistics. Textbook(s) required. 42 hrs.

Prerequisite: AH-101, AH-122, AH-110, AH-111, or field experience.

As of October 1, 2015, ICD-10 coding has replaced ICD-9 coding as an upgraded diagnostic coding system to be used by all health care providers. ICD-10 now consists of two parts: ICD-10-CM for diagnosis coding and ICD-10-PCS for operative procedure coding.
This course will give you basic understanding of the three- to seven-digit alphanumeric codes used to specify medical procedures. You will review the body systems in relation to the sequence of the alphanumeric codes in order to specify the section (1), body system (2), root operation (3), body part (4), approach (5), device used (6) and qualifier (7). ICD-10-PCS codes are vital and mandated components of a patient’s diagnostic charting in an inpatient setting and also affect the hospitals’ and inpatient facilities’ reimbursement processes. Textbook(s) required. 42 hrs.

Prerequisite: AH-101, AH-110 & AH-111.

Master the procedure codes required when billing for home medical equipment companies, physician practices, hospitals, and other medical professionals. These codes primarily represent items, supplies and non-physician services not covered by CPT-4 and required for Medicare/Medicaid Reimbursement. Level II codes consist of five-position alphanumeric codes which represent physician and nonphysican services, products as well as supplies not represented in the Level I codes. Textbook required. 18 hrs.

Prerequisite: Basic typing skills, intermediate computer skills

Using Medical Manager, one of the leading medical software programs, you will practice the essentials of computerized medical billing by inputting extensive patient and dependent demographics, insurance information, ICD-9 and CPT-4 codes, insurance prioritization, account editing and charge entry exercises. Learn how to reconcile accounts and generate daily close ledger sheets for a fictitious multi-physician medical office. Textbook required. 25 hrs.

Medical record analysts review medical records for missing documents, missing signatures, or missing text according to the procedure. Analysts primarily perform quantitative analysis of each medical record to ensure completeness of the documentation as per regulatory standards. This class will familiarize you with various hospital forms, reports, and test results as well as the clinical and diagnostic information used by health care personnel in relation to patient chart documentation and control.

Students will learn how to abstract and summarize specific documentation in relation to the assignment of CPT-4, ICD-9, and/or ICD-10 codes, as well as pertinent diagnostic and billing information for health care claims submissions and accounts processing. The use and validity of the medical record, in relation to legal and liability issues in health care, will also be discussed. Textbook(s) required. 24 hrs.

Prerequisite: AH-101, AH122, AH-216, AH215, AH202, AH-250 and/or one year field experience

Enroll today if you want to pass the CPC certification exam and get national recognition as a certified procedural coder. Topics include an intensive review of how and when to use specific CPT and HCPCS codes, coding scenarios, sample test questions, problem solving and analysis of codes as well as test taking strategies. Course is taught by a certified procedural coder and upon completion, you can register to take the CPC exam. 21 hrs.

Prerequisite: AH-101, AH122, AH216, AH215, AH202, AH250 and/or one year field experience

Enroll today for the knowledge necessary to pass the CCS certification exam and obtain national recognition as a certified coding specialist. Referencing your acquired knowing of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and ICD-9 coding, this test preparation class will provide an intensive review of how and when to use specific ICD-9 codes and ambulatory CPT-4 codes, as well as a review of different coding scenarios, which mirror those given on the CCS examination. Time management techniques and test taking strategies will also be covered. 21 hrs.

If you want to earn certification as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant-CCMA, enroll in our National Health Care Career Association (NHA) exam preparation course, where you will review both theory and practical skill-sets, with an emphasis on medical terminology, general clinical and administrative medical assisting knowledge, as well as time-management skills and test-taking strategies. 24 hrs.

Prerequisite: AH-101, AH-122, AH-852, AH855, AH856 and AH-958 and/or one-year field experience

Covers skills common to the private practice and hospital worker, such as obtaining medical histories, vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, pulse/respiration rates), and preparing/draping patients for physician examinations. Topics include infection control, proper gloving techniques, first aid care and emergency procedures for the medical office. Textbook required. 24 hrs.

Explore the anatomy and physiology of the venous system and the proper techniques for obtaining blood specimens from adults. Learn vacuum tube collection and the use of winged infusion sets for phlebotomy with special procedures for glucose tolerance, therapeutic drug monitoring and special handling. Textbook required. 24 hrs.

Review the basics of heart electrophysiology. Learn to set up an EKG machine, prepare patient for testing and perform a 12-lead EKG, recognizing limb reversals, correcting exterior interference, and correctly identifying bipolar, unipolar leads. Pre-cordial leads will also be covered. Textbook(s) required. 24 hrs.

Medical personnel need to understand basic pharmacology and mathematical calculations to work effectively in a health care setting. Topics covered in this introductory course include interpreting patients’ written prescriptions, routes of administration, dictations of medications, generic and brand-name drugs, medical pharmaceutical abbreviations, and basic mathematics pertinent to pharmaceutical calculations. This course is also recommended for students who wish to become pharmacy technicians but need a review of mathematical concepts in order to pass the entrance examination. Textbook(s) required. 24 hrs.