Medical Billing and Coding courses offered at VGCC Main Campus
Upcoming courses scheduled to be offered by Vance-Granville Community College will help introduce area residents to the growing health-care billing/coding field or help those already in the profession to update their skills in response to industry changes.
“Medical Billing Transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10,” a 72-hour course, will be held on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6 until 9 p.m., Sept. 13 through Dec. 6, on the college’s main campus in Vance County. “This course will provide the medical billing and coding employee the groundwork needed to start the lengthy process of changes coming to the medical billing world,” said Marianne Miller, the course’s instructor. According to the American Academy of Professional Coders, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has mandated that medical coders and billers switch from the ninth revision (ICD-9) to the tenth revision (ICD-10) of the International Classification of Diseases system to report health care diagnoses and procedures, effective Oct. 1, 2013. The cost of this course includes a $175 registration fee and a $3 security/access fee. Textbooks are also required for the class. Registration begins on Sept. 1.
VGCC will also soon offer the Medical Terminology course, which is the first required course for the Medical Coding certificate program. Classes will be held on Monday and Wednesday nights from 6 until 9 p.m., Sept. 26 through Dec. 14. Orientation for new students in Medical Coding will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. in room 7107 of Building 7 on the college’s main campus. This course is the introduction to the language of medicine. Students learn to pronounce, spell and define medical terms related to anatomy, physiology, pathological conditions, diagnostic testing and medical procedures. Four courses are required to complete the Medical Coding certificate program: Medical Terminology; Medical Coding; Medical Insurance, Billing and Chart Abstracting; and Medical Coding Certification Exam Preparation. Students must have a high school diploma or GED to enter the program. The cost of this course includes a $175 registration fee and a $3 security/access fee. Textbooks are also required for the class.
For more information and to register for either course, call VGCC Computer Center coordinator Laura Peace at (252) 738-3417.
