Course Syllabus

 

 

COURSE IDENTIFICATION

 

Course Prefix/Number:                                               ALMA 130                                                                      

Course Title:                                                                Medical Insurance and Coding                                                                                   

Division:                                                                      Outreach and Workforce Development                                                                                      

Program:                                                                      Medical Assistant                                                                   

Credit Hours:                                                              3.0                                                                              

Initiation/Revised Date:                                              Fall 2005                                                                         

 

CLASSIFICATION OF INSTRUCTION

 

Vocational

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

This course is designed to prepare students to process health insurance claims and understand health insurance plan options.  It will introduce information about major insurance programs and federal health care legislation, provide a basic knowledge of national diagnosis and procedure coding systems, and simplify the process of completing claims.

 

 

PREREQUISITES AND/OR COREQUISITES

 

Corequisite: ALHE 105 Medical Terminology

 

TEXTS

 

Required:

Buck, Carol J., (2006).  Medical Coding Online (Class Edition) to Accompany Step-by-Step Coding 2006 (Textbook Package), 2006 edition.  St. Louis, Elsevier.  ISBN:  1-4160-2423-5

 

Fordney, Marilyn T., (2004).  Insurance Handbook for the Medical Office with HIPAA, 9th edition.  St. Louis, Elsevier.  ISBN:  1-4160-0100-X

 

Covell, Alice,  Current Year Coding Workbook for the Physician’s Office, Clifton Park, NY, Thompson Delmar Learning.  ISBN:  1-4018-8304-4

 

Reference:

CPT-4, HCPCS, ICD-9-CM, Current Year

 

COURSE OUTCOMES/COMPETENCIES (as Required)

 

Related to Processing Insurance Claims the student should be able to:

 

1.      Apply managed care policies and procedures.

 

2.      Apply third party guidelines

 

3.      Perform procedural coding.

 

4.      Perform diagnostic coding.

 

5.      Complete insurance claim forms.

 

 

COURSE OUTLINE

 

I.                   Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) - Buck

A.  Introduction to the CPT Manual

B.  Evaluation and Management (E/M) Section

C.  Anesthesia Section and Modifiers

D.  Introduction to the Surgery Section and Integumentary System

E.  Musculoskeletal System 6. Respiratory System

F.  Cardiovascular System 8. Female Genital System and Maternity Care and   

     Delivery

G. General Surgery I

H.  General Surgery II

I.    Radiology Section

J.    Pathology/Laboratory

K.  Medicine Section and the Level II National Codes

 

II.                International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM)

A.  An Overview of the ICD-9-CM

B.  Using the ICD-9-CM

 

III.       An Overview of Reimbursement

            A.  Third-Party Reimbursement Issues Appendix

B.     Official ICD-9-CM Guidelines for Coding and Reporting

C.     HIPAA for the Physician’s Office

 

IV.             Career Role and Responsibilities

A.    Role of an Insurance Billing Specialist

B.     Compliance and the E-Health Initiative

 

V.                The Claims Process

A.    Basics of Health Insurance

B.     Medical Documentation

C.     Diagnostic Coding

D.    Procedural Coding

E.     The Paper Claim: CMS-1500

F.      Electronic Data Interchange: Transactions and Security

G.    Receiving Payments and Insurance Problem Solving

H.    Office and Insurance Collection Strategies

 

V.       Health Care Payers

A. The Blues Plans, Private Insurance, and Managed Care Plans

B.  Medicare

C.  Medicaid and Other State Programs

D.  TRICARE and CHAMPVA

E.  Workers’ Compensation

F.  Disability Income Insurance and Disability Benefit Programs

 

VI.       Inpatient and Outpatient Billing

a.              Hospital Billing

 

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS

 

Lecture, Internet, CD Rom Activities, Workbook and Group Assignments, Discussion, Guest Speakers, Collaborative Projects, Demonstrations.

 

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS AND METHOD OF EVALUATION

 

Students will be required to complete reading assignments, chapter reviews, case studies as assigned, participate in discussions with other classmates on topics determined by instructor, complete assignments and examinations of knowledge, and demonstrate skill competency.

 

The student must participate in all activities, as well as accurately complete assignments and examinations in order to receive a passing grade in this course

 

The comprehensive final examination for this course will take place during the scheduled finals week of the enrolled semester.  Further details and information will be provided closer to time of exam.

 

GRADING SCALE

    

                90-100%                      =         A

            80-89%                        =          B

            70-79%                        =          C

            60-69%                        =          D

            59% or less                  =          F

 

Attendance Policy

 

Absences that occur due to students participating in official college activities are excused except in those cases where outside bodies, such as the State Board of Nursing, have requirements for minimum class minutes for each student. Students who are excused will be given reasonable opportunity to make up any missed work or receive substitute assignments from the instructor and should not be penalized for the absence.  Proper procedure should be followed in notifying faculty in advance of the student’s planned participation in the event.  Ultimately it is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor in advance of the planned absence.

 

Unless students are participating in a school activity or are excused by the instructor, they are expected to attend class.  If a student’s absences exceed one-hundred (100) minutes per credit hour for the course or, in the case of on-line or other non-traditional courses, the student is inactive for one-eighth of the total course duration, the instructor has the right, but is not required, to withdraw a student from the course.  Once the student has been dropped for excessive absences, the registrar’s office will send a letter to the student, stating that he or she has been dropped.  A student may petition the chief academic officer for reinstatement by submitting a letter stating valid reasons for the absences within one week of the registrar’s notification.  If the student is reinstated into the class, the instructor and the registrar will be notified. 

 

Academic Integrity

NCCC expects every student to demonstrate ethical behavior with regard to academic pursuits.  Academic integrity in coursework is a specific requirement.  Definitions, examples, and possible consequences for violations of Academic Integrity, as well as the appeals process, can be found in the College Catalog, Student Handbook, and/or Code of Student Conduct and Discipline.

 

Cell Phone Policy

 

Student cell phones and pagers must be turned off during class times. Faculty may approve an exception for special circumstances.

 

 

ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT GAIN

 

Assessment of student gain will be measured by comparing the student’s knowledge of the subject when the class begins and then by using the same measurement at the close of the class.  This measurement will be done via pre and post tests over the stated course competencies, through skills competency assessment tracking sheets, and competency evaluation exams.

 

NOTE:

Information and statements in this document are subject to change at the discretion of NCCC.  Changes will be published in writing and made available to students.

 

 

 

NOTE:

 

 If you are a student with a disability who may need accommodation(s) under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please notify the Director of Advising and Counseling, Chanute Campus, Student Union, 620-431-2820 ext 280 or the Dean, Ottawa Campus, 785-242-2607 ext 312, as soon as possible.  You will need to bring your documentation for review in order to determine reasonable accommodations, and then we can assist you in arranging any necessary accommodations.

 

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