MCC’s Revamps Medical Billing & Coding Certificate for Fully Online

Middlesex Community College is committed to helping make education more equitable and accessible. To provide students with more flexible learning options, Middlesex has revamped the medical billing and coding certificate to offer the program fully online.

“We decided to move the program completely online based on feedback from students and also to expand our reach to students beyond the Greater Lowell and Bedford areas,” said Tracey McKethan, MCC’s Program Coordinator for Medical Billing & Coding. “Faculty stay up-to-date using the latest code books and textbooks, along with hands-on learning.”

The program provides students with the skills to work on the administrative side of medicine, according to McKethan. This includes dealing with insurance companies, understanding the claim life cycle and revenue management, as well as converting medical documentation into diagnosis and procedural coding for reimbursement.

By the end of the program, students should be able to report diagnosis and procedure codes following official guidelines, understand electronic health records (EHRs), and Medicare, Medicaid and private payers. In addition to classroom learning, students gain access to career counseling and support, tutoring and other health career-related experiences.

Students will be prepared to take the national coding exam and to work in an entry-level billing or coding position. Options include inpatient and outpatient long-term care facilities, hospitals, clinics, physician’s offices, billing agencies and insurance companies.

The 24-credit program is offered online with no scheduled meetings unless needed. Students complete courses over MCC’s accelerated Mini-mesters. The eight-week Mini-mesters provide the same content, academic standards, and number of instructional hours as courses scheduled during the traditional 15-week semester.

Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/registration/ for more information and to register.