The Medical Insurance Billing Technician Certificate Program is "by far the most popular in the Allied Health Program," said Alice A. Hinkle, noncredit Allied Health coordinator for the Lancaster and Lebanon campuses of HACC. It prepares individuals for careers in medical billing, coding or claims processing.
"A variety of career opportunities, cost effectiveness of training, and a relatively short period of training time all have contributed to HACC's continued double digit enrollment every semester over the past five years," said Hinkle.
Increasing government regulation in healthcare including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is increasing the need for medical insurance billing technicians.
HIPAA was enacted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish standards and requirements for the maintenance and transmission of health care information. The goal of HIPAA is to protect the security and confidentiality of electronic patient health information and cut the cost of print-based record transactions.
Medical insurance billing technicians provide coding support, post changes and payments, and follow-up on third-party reimbursements by initiating appeals and/or collections of unpaid balances.
They obtain patient information necessary for successful claims management; have an understanding of medical terminology and ICD-9 and CPT coding; and perform billing calculations and procedures. Many medical billing professionals also act as collectors, schedulers, verify insurance and post charges and payments.
"Medical insurance billing is a field that offers flexibility and the opportunity to work from home, as well as a variety of work settings including hospitals, physician's offices, nursing facilities, rehab facilities, insurance companies, and even law offices," said Hinkle.
HACC's Medical Insurance Billing Technician program "is extremely flexible to meet the needs of students who have lives outside the classroom," said Hinkle.
The 147-hour program includes six core courses and a choice of one of three electives offered. The program is designed to be self-paced, and a rotation of classes allows for continuing entry into the program.
Individuals are trained in medical insurance billing procedures, coding techniques, medical terminology, reimbursement calculations, and computer applications.
Upon successfully completing the program, students receive a certificate of completion. Students have taken this course and passed certification exams for professional coders. HACC instructors work in the field day by day and because of their networking can help students locate jobs. "It's a win-win for the student, the college and local employers," said Hinkle.
Medical billing is a field that requires ongoing education in order to remain competent. Students who complete this program may move on to HACC's health information technology program and/or work toward coding certification. The employment outlook is excellent for those seeking entry level into healthcare.
The summer series of classes for the Medical Insurance Billing Technician Certificate Program starts in May. Early registration is suggested for all Allied Health classes at the Lancaster Campus of HACC, as it is one of the most popular programs of study.
Registration information may be obtained by accessing the Web site below or calling (717) 358-2901 for a summer schedule.