Course Content
Module 1- Introduction to Healthcare and Medical Terminology
This section provides a foundational understanding of medical billing and coding, its importance in healthcare, and key industry terminologies. Titles & Summaries: Overview of Medical Billing and Coding – Understanding the role of billing and coding in healthcare revenue cycle management. Medical Terminology Essentials – Learning the key medical terms, abbreviations, and definitions. Healthcare Settings and Documentation – Exploring different healthcare environments and the importance of medical records. Introduction to ICD-10, CPT, and HCPCS Codes – Understanding coding classifications and how they are used.
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Module 3: Claim Submission Process – Elaborated with Examples
Core Focus: This lesson provides a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare claim submission process, from patient registration to final payment or denial. It emphasizes the importance of accuracy, efficiency, and compliance in ensuring timely reimbursement for healthcare providers.
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Module 4: CPT Coding
Overall Goal: To equip students with the foundational knowledge and practical skills necessary to accurately assign CPT codes for medical procedures and services, understanding their crucial role in healthcare billing and data reporting. Key Learning Objectives (Expanded and with Examples):
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Comprehensive Medical Billing and Coding Course – Part 1

 Lesson Overview

Understanding medical terminology is essential for accurate coding. This lesson covers the breakdown of root words, prefixes, and suffixes used in medical coding, commonly used abbreviations, and real-world case studies demonstrating terminology in action.


1. Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes in Medical Coding

Medical terms are made up of three main components:

  • Root words: Indicate the main part of the word.
  • Prefixes: Added at the beginning to modify meaning.
  • Suffixes: Added at the end to provide additional information.

A. Common Root Words

Root Word Meaning Example
Cardi/o Heart Cardiomyopathy (heart disease)
Gastr/o Stomach Gastroenteritis (stomach inflammation)
Neur/o Nerve Neurology (study of nerves)

B. Common Prefixes

Prefix Meaning Example
Hyper- Excessive Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Hypo- Below normal Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Brady- Slow Bradycardia (slow heartbeat)

C. Common Suffixes

Suffix Meaning Example
-itis Inflammation Arthritis (joint inflammation)
-ectomy Removal Appendectomy (removal of appendix)
-logy Study of Pathology (study of disease)

Example Breakdown:

  • Myocarditis
    • Myo- (Muscle)
    • Cardi- (Heart)
    • -itis (Inflammation)
      Definition: Inflammation of the heart muscle.

2. Medical Abbreviations in Diagnoses and Procedures

Medical billing and coding rely heavily on abbreviations to streamline documentation.

Abbreviation Meaning Use Case
BP Blood Pressure Hypertension diagnosis
CXR Chest X-ray Pneumonia screening
DM Diabetes Mellitus Chronic condition coding

Example Usage:

  • EHR Note: “Pt c/o CP, hx of HTN, Rx for ASA.”
  • Translation: Patient complains of chest pain, history of hypertension, prescribed aspirin.

3. Case Studies: Interpreting Real-World Medical Records

Understanding medical records is essential for accurate coding. Below is a real-world case study:

Case Study:
A 65-year-old male presents with chest pain, hypertension, and diabetes. The doctor orders a chest X-ray and ECG, diagnosing angina pectoris.

Coding Breakdown

  • ICD-10 Code for Angina Pectoris: I20.9
  • CPT Code for ECG: 93000
  • HCPCS Code for Aspirin Prescription: J2001

Key Takeaway:
By analyzing medical records and using correct terminology, coders ensure accurate billing and reimbursement.

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