Administrative Medical Specialist- Gatlin Online: George Mason Continuing Education

Upon successful completion of the Administrative Medical Specialist with Medical Billing and Coding course, students will be prepared for an entry-level position doing medical billing or coding in a medical office setting and will be prepared to sit for the national certification exam.

The medical industry is experiencing a tremendous demand for individuals with knowledge of medical office operations, which includes billing and coding, processing insurance forms, and using medical software. According to the American Medical Association, there are more than 1.2 million Medical Specialists in the United States. This profession is listed as one of the fastest growing professions in allied health.

The career of an administrative medical specialist is a challenging one with new opportunities arising continuously. Job security is high for an individual who understands claims processing and billing regulations, possesses sharp coding skills, and is successful in appealing under-paid or denied insurance claims. Recent surveys of medical office personnel Help Wanted advertisements indicate the need for individuals with these skills. With this online AMS/MBC program, students will learn the job skills they need to be successful candidates in the workforce.

The Administrative Medical Specialist with Medical Billing and Coding program will give you the skills you need to be competitive in the healthcare market, as well as the credentials through certification to prove your qualifications.

In addition to the skills already mentioned, the AMS/MBC course includes legal, ethical, and regulatory concepts – including HIPAA compliance requirements, industry- specific techniques for filing, proper protocol for patient interaction and communication, medical records management, charting and documentation, telecommunication and telephone techniques, inventory management, banking, payroll and taxes, and other office management skills.

Some typical tasks for the AMS include:

Receiving, making and documenting telephone calls
Scheduling appointments and registering of patient information
Performing insurance verification, pre-authorization, and referral tasks
Preparing patient charts and maintaining medical records
Preparing and posting transactions on day sheets, charge tickets, and patient accounts
Coding and billing insurance claims
Collecting patient payments and performing collection activities

Videos
Throughout the course, video interviews of medical assistants and healthcare providers working at a real-world medical office are presented as part of our Gatlin Education Video Education Series. As they talk about their day-to-day responsibilities, challenges, and rewards of working in the field– you can also watch them at work as they perform those tasks.

Simulations
Each module contains step-by-step simulations for almost all of the tasks you will learn in the AMS with MBC course, including Patient Registration, Charge and Payment data entry, Insurance Claims Preparation and Processing, Appointment Scheduling, Pre-Authorization, and Bookkeeping – both accounts receivable and payable - to name just a few.

Games, Practice Quizzes, and Activities
At the end of almost every topic within each module, Just for Fun! games like hangman, concentration, and crossword puzzles, and practice quizzes and tasks are presented. There is no grade for the games and practice activities– but they will help reinforce the concepts and information in each module.

Medical Office Simulation Software (MOSS)
MOSS is a unique, state-of-the-art software which simulates all the computerized administrative tasks performed in the medical office, including appointment scheduling, patient registration, charge entry and payment posting, insurance and patient billing, collections, and many others.

Module 1 - Introduction to Healthcare

Course Introduction and Overview
Medical Assisting as a Profession
Healthcare: Past, Present, and Future
Communication Skills
Introduction to Medical Office Simulation Software (MOSS)

Module 2 – Law, Ethics & HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Law and Ethics

Module 3: The Patient Encounter

Telephone Procedures
Appointment Scheduling
MOSS Appointment Scheduling
Filing Procedures
Medical Records Management
The Receptionist and Facility Environment
MOSS Patient Registration
Drugs and Medications
MOSS Procedure and Payment Posting

Module 4: Billing & Reimbursement

Medical Insurance Overview
Billing and Reimbursement

CMS-1500 Claim Form (Provider)

MOSS Insurance Processing
Insurance Carriers

Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Medicare
Medicaid
TRICARE
Worker’s Compensation

Reimbursement and Follow-Up

Module 5 - Diagnostic Coding

Diagnosis Coding Overview
Abstracting from the Medical Document
ICD9 Conventions, Layout, and Guidelines
Steps for Diagnostic Coding
ICD9 Guidelines by Body System

Module 6 - Procedural Coding

CPT Overview
Evaluation and Management Coding
Anesthesia Coding
Surgery Coding (by body and organ system)
Laboratory and Pathology Coding
Radiology Coding
Medicine Coding
HCPCS Level II Coding

Module 7: Business Office/Management

Daily Financial Practices
Accounting Practices
Medical Office Simulation Software (MOSS)
Office Manager
Human Resources Management

Module 8 – Completion and Certification Prep

Instructions for Marking Course Complete
Employment Strategies
Certification

Steps to Access National Healthcareers Association

Certification Preparation Module
Certification Handbook and Study Guide
Certification Exam

CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS

Sample George Mason University Certificate of Completion

A 70% or better must be achieved in order to receive a Certificate of Completion.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of the Administrative Medical Specialist with Medical Billing and Coding program, students will:

Be proficient in skills such as communication, telephone techniques, organization, and time management.
Have knowledge of medical practice settings and specialties, as well as the differences in traditional and managed care. Students also learn about commercial, HMO/PPO, federal and state insurance plans, including eligibility and coverage, as well as reimbursement methodologies.
Have knowledge of the legal and ethical responsibilities of an administrative medical specialist, including the HIPAA mandates, the rules for maintaining privacy of medical records and protected health information, and the types of consents and disclosures that are required in a medical office environment.
Be able to perform tasks associated with the entire accounts receivable and revenue cycle, including scheduling and registration of patients, posting of accounting transactions, completion of insurance claim forms, and collections.
Be able to perform the day-to-day tasks associated with medical coding, medical billing, and completing insurance forms.
Be able to effectively input patient information, run office reports, and process insurance claims using medical software.
Be prepared to take an advanced coding course to prepare for more advanced national certifications.

PDF BROCHURE

Please click here to download the PDF brochure for the Gatlin online courses offered by OCPE.

This brochure and the registration form for this course require Adobe Reader. Click here to download the latest version of Adobe Reader.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

A basic understanding of medical terminology is a prerequisite for this program. Therefore we strongly recommend that if you have not had any previous medical terminology experience you take GATL 0317: Medical Terminology. If you enroll in Medical Terminology at the same time that you enroll in this course, you will receive the terminology course at the discounted rate of $300.

Students should be proficient in keyboarding, have a basic understanding of a word processing computer program (Microsoft Word recommended), and have a command of English grammar and punctuation. No healthcare or medical office work experience is required.

The target audience for this program is anyone interested in learning job skills for medical office opportunities, changing job skills to become a medical office assistant, or changing job skills to become a medical coder.

PC REQUIREMENTS

The Administrative Medical Specialist with Medical Billing and Coding online course must have:

IBM Compatible (PC) computer running Windows 98 or any later version up to Windows XP.
CD-ROM drive (for installing the Medical Office Simulation Software (MOSS).
Students need to have access to a word processing program, preferably Microsoft Word.
Students must have Internet access. While the program will work from a dial-up connection, high-speed Internet access (like DSL or cable) is recommended.

Important Notes:

The Medical Office Software Simulation (MOSS) is not currently compatible with the Windows Vista operating system.
A Macintosh computer will not work for this course.

INSTRUCTORS

Carline Dalgleish
April Raines
LaTrisha Howard
Lydia S. Stewart, RN, BSN
Marguerite Spence

FAQ

1. How do I register for a Gatlin online course?

Please contact our office on the Fairfax campus in Northern Virginia (NOVA) or call 703-993-2113. Click here for more information or to download a copy of the registration form.

2. How much do Gatlin online courses cost?

To view the prices for all Gatlin courses that are offered by George Mason University, please click here.

3. Why do I have to take Gatlin courses through a participating school?

Gatlin does not offer courses directly to the public. They partner with major colleges and universities to offer their programs.

4. Do I have to travel to register for or to attend a Gatlin online course?

All Gatlin courses are delivered entirely online, you do not have to go to a class or travel to a school. If you are unable to visit our office on the Fairfax campus in Northern Virginia (NOVA), please contact us at 703-993-2113 or click here for more information or to register for a course.

5. How long does it take to complete a Gatlin course?

All of our Gatlin courses are asynchronous. You can start and finish the course at your own pace. Most courses are designed to be completed within 180 days. You may request an extension if you think you will need more time to complete a course (fees may apply). Please contact us at 703-993-2113 or click here if you have any questions or if you would like to register for a course.

6. Do I have to buy additional materials?

Please refer to the green Included Materials box located on the upper right hand side of this page. If materials are included in this course, they will be shipped by Gatlin to you via UPS ground service after you have registered for a course.

7. Can I get financial aid for Gatlin courses?

Gatlin courses are non-credit and therefore are not eligible for Federal Student Aid. However there are a number of loan programs that can be used to fund your course. Click here to view a list of these options or call 703-993-2113 for more information. Gatlin also provides a loan opportunity for students (www.collegeloanapplication.com).

8. What happens when I complete the course?

If you obtain a final passing grade of 70% or greater in a course, we will award you a George Mason University certificate of completion.

9. Who will be my instructor?

Each student is paired up with a facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available (by e-mail) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. Facilitators are all successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach.

10. What are the system requirements in order to take an online course?

Please see the "PC requirements" section listed for individual courses.

11. When can I start the course?

Registrations are rolling. Please send us your registration form at the time you wish to start your course. Registrations take five to seven business days to process.

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