May 10, 2024  
2022-2023 Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

MEAS 137 - Outpatient Insurance and Basic Coding


PREREQUISITES: HLHS 101 - Medical Terminology  and Program Chair Approval
PROGRAM: Medical Assisting
CREDIT HOURS MIN: 3
LECTURE HOURS MIN: 2
LAB HOURS MIN: 2
DATE OF LAST REVISION: Spring, 2021

Provides an overview of health insurance plans and the skills needed to complete and submit insurance claims for third party reimbursement. Procedural and diagnostic coding appropriate to the ambulatory healthcare setting is included.

MAJOR COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be expected to:

  1. Identify: (VIII.C.1)
    1. Types of third party plans
    2. Information required to file a third party claim
    3. The steps for filing a third party claim
  2. Outline managed care requirements for patient referral (VIII.C.2)
  3. Describe processes for: (VIII.C.3)
    1. Verification of eligibility of services
    2. Precertification
    3. Preauthorization
  4. Differentiate between fraud and abuse (VIII.C.5)
  5. Interpret information on an insurance card (VIII.P.1)
  6. Verify eligibility for services including documentation (VIII.P.2)
  7. Obtain precertification or preauthorization including documentation (VIII.P.3)
  8. Complete an insurance form (VIII.P.4)
  9. Interact professionally with third party representatives (VIII.A.1)
  10. Display tactful behavior when communicating with medical providers, regarding third party requirements (VIII.A.2)
  11. Show sensitivity when communicating with patients regarding third party requirements (VIII.A.3)
  12. Describe how to use the most current procedural coding system (IX.C.1)
  13. Describe how to use the most current diagnostic coding classification system (IX.C.2)
  14. Describe how to use the most current HCPCS Level II coding system (IX.C.3)
  15. Discuss the effects of:
    1. Upcoding
    2. Downcoding (IX.C.4)
  16. Define medical necessity as it applies to procedural and diagnostic coding (IX.C.5)
  17. Perform procedural coding (IX.P.1)
  18. Perform diagnostic coding (IX.P.2)
  19. Utilize medical necessity guidelines (IX.P.3)
  20. Utilize tactful communication skills with medical providers to ensure accurate code selection (IX.A.1)
  21. Define a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) (VIII.C.4)


COURSE CONTENT: Topical areas of study include -  

  • Health insurance plans
  • Processing insurance claim forms
  • Third party reimbursement
  • Procedural coding
  • Diagnostic coding

 
Course Addendum - Syllabus (Click to expand)