Online Medical Administration, Billing and Coding Training

What do medical administrative assistants do?

According to NHA, medical administrative assistants primarily work in the “front office” of a medical practice or healthcare facility. Their duties may include coordinating practice correspondence, maintaining files and scheduling appointments.

Do medical administrative assistants need certification?

The healthcare environment operates on the basis of professionalism, precision and dedication to patient welfare. Medical assistant certification may be required for many jobs. Earning a CMAA establishes a medical assistant as a caring, responsible professional who has undergone a study and assessment program to validate their credentials.

Where do medical administrative assistants work?

Medical assistants commonly work in medical practices, such as physicians’ offices, outpatient clinics and other healthcare facilities, according to the BLS.

What’s the difference between being a medical assistant and a medical billing and coding specialist?

Essentially, these are two distinct skill sets used within a healthcare setting. However, the responsibilities of a medical assistant may include medical billing, medical coding or both. Similarly, medical billing and coding specialists may have their own job titles or may have their title combined with a medical assistant or medical administrative professional designation. 

Why should medical assistants learn medical billing and coding?

The healthcare field offers one of the leading areas of opportunities for career growth today. Within healthcare, specialized medical assistants are among the most in-demand professionals. Matching office administration skills with medical billing and coding opens up more opportunities and salary growth in both general healthcare administration and specialized medical services. 

What are the requirements for a medical billing and coding career? 

Entry-level positions typically require completion of a certificate and passing one of the certification exams or an associate degree program in medical billing and coding. Additionally, medical billing and coding professionals must understand the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

What is the difference between certification exams (CPC, CCA and CBCS)?

Obtaining a CPC, CCA or CBCS certification implies that an individual has met competencies in the field of medical billing and coding. Certification is invaluable to the student’s career goals. Students have an opportunity to make confident, informed decisions about the national certification they prefer. Please see certification descriptions below:

• The Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam is offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). It is the gold-standard entry-level coding certification for physicians or professional-fee coders. 
• The Certified Coding Associate (CCA) is offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). It is an entry-level medical coding certification across all settings — physician practices and inpatient hospitals.
• The Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) is offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) and is currently an entry-level medical billing certification for physician practices. The exam is an entry-level billing and coding certification that includes ICD-10-CM, CPT and HCPCS Level II testing.

Can I earn college credits with this medical administrative assistant program?

Please note that our Certified Medical Administrative Assistant and Medical Billing and Coding program is noncredit-bearing. It is designed to prepare you to enter the workforce quickly.

Course Objectives 

Our Certified Medical Administration, Billing and Coding training equips you with a broad range of administrative duties and skills needed to work alongside medical providers and patients. This program’s robust curriculum ensures that you achieve the following:

• Learn the legal, ethical and regulatory aspects of medical office management.
• Understand HIPAA compliance and third-party guidelines for filing insurance claims.
• Gain the skills to code diagnoses, services and procedures for all systems of the body. 
• Learn medical terminology and the structures and functions of the human body.
• Master the basics of working with medical documents, medical billing and coding processes. 
• Be fully prepared to pass the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant exam, offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) and one of the following three professional certifications that best align with your interests and career goals:
  1. Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)  
  2. Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) 
  3. Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)