Healthcare Billing and Reimbursement Assistant (HBA1) Technical Certificate of Credit

Campus Locations: Vidalia, Swainsboro

The Healthcare Billing & Reimbursement Assistant Certificate is designed to provide instruction in medical facility reimbursement and compliance regulations. The standard curriculum for the Healthcare Billing & Reimbursement Assistant Certificate program is designed for the semester system. Students may enter the program any semester. The certificate generally takes three (3) to four (4) semesters to complete. To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 18-22 credit hours.

Requirements

Submit a completed application;
Be at least 16 years of age;
Submit official high school/high school equivalent transcripts;
Submit official college transcripts, if applicable;
Satisfy Placement Testing requirements.

Program Costs

Costs are estimates and are subject to change.

Tuition/Fees: $2,774
Books/Supplies: $750

Curriculum Outline (22 hours)

Occupational Courses (18-22 hours)	22
BUSN 1015Intro to Healthcare Reimbursement (Prerequisites: BUSN 1010 only OR BUSN 2300/ALHS 1090) This course is designed to increase efficiency and streamline administrative procedures for healthcare insurance billing and reimbursement. Topics include documentation in the medical record, types of insurance, Medicare compliance policies related to documentation and confidentiality, and HIPAA and other compliance regulations.	3
BUSN 2350Electronic Health Records (Prerequisites: BUSN 1010 only OR BUSN 2310/ALHS 1011and BUSN 2300/ALHS 1090, COMP 1000 or Guided Elective) This course provides a study of the content, code sets, storage, retrieval, control, flow, retention, maintenance of electronic health records, and computerized office management. Topics include: electronic healthcare information management, electronic data exchange, coding standards, health record and office management software, point of entry data entry, electronic coding from health records, speed data entry in processing healthcare records, analysis of records to improve patient care, confidentiality, release of information, security of electronic healthcare record, communication, technology, insurance payment, managed care, posting to accounts, appointment schedules, practice management, report generation, customizing medical documents, claims management, collections management, and HIPAA security.	3
BUSN 2375Healthcare Coding (Prerequisites: BUSN 1010 only OR BUSN 2310/ALHS 1011 and BUSN 2300/ALHS 1090, COMP 1000 or Guided Elective) Provides an introduction to medical coding skills and applications of international coding standards as it applies to healthcare billing for insurance purposes. Topics include: current procedural terminology, International Classification of Diseases, code book formats, coding techniques, formats of the ICD and CPT manuals, and collections.	3
Choose One (3 hours)	3
COMP 1000Intro to Computer Literacy This course introduces the fundamental concepts, terminology, and operations necessary to use computers. Emphasis is placed on basic functions and familiarity with computer use. Topics include introductions to computer and digital terminology and usage, operating systems, Internet and digital communication, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, and presentation applications.	3
GUI 003Guided Elective (3 hours)	3

Choose One (6-10 hours)
You may choose to take these three courses OR (10 hours)	10
ALHS 1090Medical Terminology for Allied Health Sciences (Prerequisite: Provisional Admission) Introduces the elements of medical terminology. Emphasis is placed on building familiarity with medical words through knowledge of roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Topics include: origins (roots, prefixes, and suffixes), word building, abbreviations and symbols, and terminology related to the human anatomy.	2
ALHS 1011Structure & Function of Human Body (Prerequisite: Regular Admission) Focuses on basic normal structure and function of the human body. Topics include general plan and function of the human body, integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, nervous and sensory systems, endocrine system, cardiovascular system, lymphatic system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, and reproductive system.	5
MAST 1120Human Diseases (Prerequisites: ALHS 1011, ALHS 1090, ENGL 1010, MATH 1012, PSYC 1010) (Co-requisites: MAST 1080, MAST 1100) Provides review of anatomy and physiology per body system and fundamental information concerning common diseases and disorders or each body system. For each system, the disease or disorder is highlighted including: description, etiology, signs and symptoms, diagnostic procedures, treatment, management, prognosis, and prevention. Topics include: review of anatomy and physiology and diseases of the body systems.	3
You may choose to take only this course (6 hours)	6
BUSN 1010Med Terminology, Anatomy, Diseases for Business (Prerequisites: None) This course focuses on medical terminology, anatomy, and diseases and disorders of each major human body system: Integumentary, Skeletal, Muscular, Nervous, Sensory, Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Lymphatic, Respiratory, Digestive, Urinary, Reproductive Systems of the Male and Female, and Development, Heredity, and Genetics.	6