Medical
Coding Curriculum
Module 1 – Medical Word Structure
Lesson 1 – Word Origins
Lesson 2 – Word Dynamics
Lesson 3 – English
Grammar & Punctuation
Module 2 –
Medical Vocabulary & Word Structure
Lesson 1 –Learning
Medical Terminology
Lesson 2 – Medical Spelling
Lesson 3 – Medical Word Structure
Lesson 4 – Prefixes, Suffixes and Root Words
Lesson 5 – Plurals
Lesson 6 – Sound Alike Terms
Lesson 7 – Helpful Resources
Module 3 – Pharmacology & Medical Laboratory
Lesson 1 – Pharmacology
Lesson 2 - Laboratory
Module 4 – Medical
Reports and Legal Aspects
Lesson 1 – Basic Medical Reporting
Lesson 2 – Hospital Medical Reports
Lesson 3 – Clinic Medical Reports
Lesson 4 – Medical Formatting
Lesson 5 – Legal Aspects of Healthcare
Lesson 6 – HIPAA and Confidentiality
Module 5 – Introduction to Coding
Lesson 1 – What is a Medical Coder?
Lesson 2 – Industry History & Codes
Lesson 3 - ICD Codes
Lesson 4 – CPT Codes
Lesson 5 – HCPCS Codes
Lesson 6 – APC Codes
Lesson 7 – HCPCS Editorial Notations
Module 6 –
The Medical Coder
Lesson 1 - Introduction to the Coder
Lesson 2 - Hospital Services
Lesson 3 - Private Physician Practice
Lesson 4 - Background and Experience of Coders
Lesson 5 - Certification of Coders
Lesson 6 - Coder Responsibility
Lesson 7 - Ethical Standards for Coding
Lesson 8 - Coding Documentation
Lesson 9 - Understanding What You Code
Lesson 10 - Medical Necessity
Module 7 – ICD Coding Part I
Lesson 1 - Introduction to ICD Coding
Lesson 2 - How Reference Books Are Used
Lesson 3 - Key Word Search
Lesson 4 - Anatomical Site Search
Lesson 5 - Menus: # Sign and Bold
Lesson 6 - Multiple Codes and Code Reminders
Lesson 7 - E-Codes
Lesson 8 - Basic Parameters
Lesson 9 - V-Codes
Lesson 10 - Volume 3 ICD Books
Module 8 - ICD Coding Part II
Lesson 1 - Two-Volume System
Lesson 2 - Level of Specificity
Lesson 3 - Other (NEC) and Unspecified (NOS) Code Titles
Lesson 4 - Acute and Chronic Conditions
Lesson 5 - -Combination Code
Lesson 6 - Multiple Coding of Diagnoses
Lesson 7 - Late Effect
Lesson 8 - Uncertain Diagnoses
Lesson 9 - Impending or Threatened Condition
Lesson 10 - Selection of Principal Diagnosis
Lesson 11 - Individual Diagnoses
Lesson 12 - Outpatient and Physician Office Coding
Module 9 – CPT Coding
Lesson 1 - Evolution of CPT Coding
Lesson 2 - CPT Coding Book Guidelines
Lesson 3 - Category II and III Codes
Lesson 4 - Appendices
Lesson 5 - Modifiers
Lesson 6 - CPT Book Sections
Lesson 7 - Symbols
Lesson 8 - Unlisted Procedures
Lesson 9 - Evaluation & Management
Lesson 10 - E&M - Common Terms
Lesson 11 - E&M – Components
Lesson 12 - E&M - Decision Making and Counseling
Lesson 13 - E&M - Chart of Factors
Lesson 14 - E&M - Descriptors
Lesson 15 - E&M - Office-Outpatient Visit
Lesson 16 - E&M - Inpatient Services
Lesson 17 - E&M Consultations
Lesson 8 - E&M - Nursing Facility Services
Lesson 19 - E&M - Other Nursing Facility
Module 10 – Software and Legal Issues
Lesson 1 – Types of Coding Software
Lesson 2 - Legal Issues for Coders
Lesson 3 – Preparing for ICD-10
Lesson 4 - Summary
Module 11 – Coding Practice
Over 550 medical charts to code. This begins with general outpatient
and inpatient coding exercises, then moves to specialty coding and chart
abstraction to build coding expertise. They are rated from beginner
to expert. The answers and explanation for the correct codes are provided
at the end of each coding exercise. These exercises are the equivalent
of several months' experience.
Module 12 – Health
Insurance Specialist
Lesson 1 - Medical Care Reimbursement
Lesson 2 - Health Organization Plans
Lesson 3- Insurance Claim Form Analysis
Lesson 4-Claims and Processing
Lesson 5-Payer Processing
Lesson 6- Laws, Rules and Regulations
Lesson 7- Private Insurance
Lesson 8- Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare
Lesson 9 - Worker's Compensation
Module 13 –
Preparing for Employment (Included in book format only)
Lesson 1 – Your Job Search
Lesson 2 – Independent Contractor versus Employee
Lesson 3&4 – Continuing Professional Education
Lesson 5 – Becoming Credentialed
Lesson 6 - Establishing Your Own Independent Coding Business
Lesson 7 – Marketing Your Services
Lesson 8 – Coding Contracts
Lesson 9 – Business Ethics
Lesson 10 – Finances
Lesson 11 – Preparing for the ICD-10
Note: Also included in this course are blank copies of contract forms,
sample fee schedules, nondisclosure agreement, billing invoices, personnel
time sheet, optimization worksheets, business card samples, and many
references and other resources. This is an invaluable resource to anyone
considering a coding business now or even years from now.
Final Exam, Certificate and Employment
This course and exam provide acceptable training and experience levels
to apply and pass the AAPC or AHIMA certification exams.
For further questions, see
Coding Frequently Asked
Questions.
Return to Coding page.
