The Insurance Billing Specialist program is designed to train students to: receive medical claim forms; abstract medical information such as diagnosis, prognosis, and dates of treatment from patient records; complete forms; and answer inquiries from doctors, patients, and insurance companies. Billing specialists must have knowledge of medical terminology, diagnostic and procedural coding, as well as the legal requirements for the release of medical information. Upon completion of all required courses, students are assisted with placement in an internship at a medical billing or local healthcare facility. This is a valuable experience in applying the knowledge and skills acquired in class to the workplace. A Statement of Eligibility for Internship, a health statement and physical examination, keyboarding proficiency, basic word processing skills, and completion of all required courses with a grade of “C” or better are required prior to entry into an internship (HTCH 54A). Upon completion of the certificate, students are prepared to pursue the following career options: Insurance Biller, Medical File Clerk, Patient Account Representative, Medical Administrative Assistant, and Medical Office Management.
Program Requirements (23 units)
Course Number | Course Title | Units |
---|---|---|
HTCH001 | Introduction to Health Care | 1 unit |
HTCH002 | Medical Information Processing | 2 units |
HTCH005 | Basic Medical Terminology | 3 units |
HTCH006 | Advanced Medical Terminology | 3 units |
HTCH007 | Medical Ethics & Law | 2 units |
HTCH008 | Communication for Health Care Personnel | 2 units |
HTCH041 | Medical Office Business Procedures | 3 units |
HTCH042 | Insurance Billing and Coding | 2 units |
HTCH043 | Basic Medical Accounting and Record Keeping | 3 units |
HTCH054A | Internship for Health Care Technologies | 2 units |
Recommended Electives (0 units)
Course Number | Course Title | Units |
---|---|---|
HTCH044 | Electronic Medical Records | 2 units |
Total Certificate Units: 23 units
To be awarded a certificate, a student must:
- Complete all the program requirements.
- Earn a grade of “C” (or "P") or better for all required courses.