Online Medical Administrative Assistant Certification with MBC

Become a Certified Medical Administrative Assistant and a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

Smiling health worker sitting with patient happily completing paperworkOur 100% online certified medical administrative assistant course offers comprehensive training in administrative medical assistants and medical billing and coding, including patient flow management, scheduling appointments, insurance eligibility verification, medical coding, and more. You will learn about legal, ethical, and regulatory concepts central to the field and receive a voucher to cover the cost of the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) national certification exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

You will also be able to choose a voucher for the professional certification that best aligns with your interests and career goals related to medical billing and coding, such as the Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), and the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam offered by the NHA.

 

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Job Outlook for Medical Billing and Coding Specialists

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 14% by 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. On average, about 114,600 job openings for medical assistants are projected each year, with these professionals earning a median annual wage of $42,000 in May 2023.

The BLS also reports that as of May 2023, the median annual salary for medical records specialists was $48,780. Employment opportunities for medical records specialists are projected to grow by 8% by 2032, faster than the average rate for all occupations. Throughout that period, approximately 15,000 job openings are expected to be available for medical records specialists each year, on average.

Course Objectives

  • Medical Billing and Coding
  • Medical coding terminology required for medical coding, including the structures and functions of the human body
  • The disorders and medical procedures common to each body system
  • Legal, ethical, and regulatory concepts central to the field, including HIPAA compliance and third-party guidelines for filing insurance claims
  • The main coding manuals: ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT, and HCPCS Level II
  • How to code diagnoses, services, and procedures for all systems of the body
  • The fundamentals of medical billing & coding and medical terminology
  • Word parts and the structures and functions of the human body
  • What is required to succeed as a Medical Administrative Assistant
  • Multitasking as it relates to scheduling appointments, processing insurance requests, maintaining records, and corresponding with patients
  • The best financial practices for a medical center
  • The fundamentals of medical terminology and ethical best practices
  • The basics of working with medical documents, medical billing, and coding processes
  • Identify the professional traits that a medical assistant must possess
  • Discuss the various administrative job duties of a medical assistant
  • Recognize the importance of professional certification

Prerequisites and Requirements

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

Registration and Enrollment

This course is 100% online. Start anytime.

CMAA and Medical Billing & Coding FAQs

According to NHA, medical administrative assistants primarily work in the “front office” of a medical practice or healthcare facility. Their duties may include coordinating practice correspondence, maintaining files and scheduling appointments.
Medical billing and coding professionals are responsible for processing patient data, including medical records and related insurance. They code a patient’s diagnosis and then request payment from the patient’s insurance company. They also play an essential role in ensuring that healthcare providers are quickly and accurately paid for the treatment they give patients.
The healthcare environment operates on the basis of professionalism, precision and dedication to patient welfare. Medical assistant certification may be required for many jobs. Earning a CMAA establishes a medical assistant as a caring, responsible professional who has undergone a study and assessment program to validate their credentials.
Medical assistants commonly work in medical practices, such as physicians’ offices, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare facilities, according to the BLS.
Essentially, these are two distinct skill sets used within a healthcare setting. However, the responsibilities of a medical assistant may include medical billing, medical coding, or both. Similarly, medical billing and coding specialists may have their own job titles or may have their title combined with a medical assistant or medical administrative professional designation.
The healthcare field offers one of the leading areas of opportunities for career growth today. Within healthcare, specialized medical assistants are among the most in-demand professionals. Matching office administration skills with medical billing and coding opens up more opportunities in both general healthcare administration and specialized medical services.
Entry-level positions typically require completion of a certificate and passing one of the certification exams or an associate degree program in medical billing and coding. Additionally, medical billing and coding professionals must understand the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Obtaining a CPC, CCA, or CBCS certification implies that an individual has met competencies in the field of medical billing and coding. Certification is invaluable to the student’s career goals. Students have an opportunity to make confident, informed decisions about the national certification they prefer. Please see the certification descriptions below:

The Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam is offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). It is the gold standard entry-level coding certification for physician, or professional fee, coders.

The Certified Coding Associate (CCA) is offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). It is an entry-level medical coding certification across all settings–physician practices and inpatient hospital.

The Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) is offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) and is currently an entry-level medical billing certification for physician practices. The exam is an entry-level billing and coding certification, with the inclusion of ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II testing.

Instructors

Stacey O’Brien

Stacey O’Brien has more than 10 years of experience in medical coding and reimbursement. Ms. O’Brien has been a risk adjustment coder for a Medicare advantage plan, audited medical records for a consulting firm, and currently supervises the coding and electronic claims submission process for a group medical practice. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a CPC coding certification from the AAPC.

Sharon L. Blackford

Sharon L. Blackford, MA, BA, RMA, has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. She has a Master’s degree in Organizational Management, a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, and has served as a Registered Medical Assistant since 1994. Sharon was an active duty Clinical Specialist in the U.S. Army for 10 years. Sharon later moved to the Gulf Coast to accept a position as the Director of Education of Blue Cliff College and was promoted to Campus Director.

Carline Dalgleish

Carline Dalgleish has worked in medical office administration for over 30 years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Information Systems, a master’s degree in Leadership, and a post-baccalaureate certificate in Health Information Management. She is a Registered Health Information Administrator and an AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. Dalgleish is the author of an ICD-10 coding system and also owns her own consulting firm, AnnGrant Educational Services.

Nancy Smith

Nancy Smith has over 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Her clinical experience includes working as a medical assistant for a network of rural health clinics, and as a medical coder, insurance claims specialist, and medical records auditor. She worked as a medical office manager for ten years, where she recruited and trained all medical assistants. Nancy holds a bachelor’s degree in vocational education and has developed and taught medical assistant programs.

LaTisha Cottingham

LaTisha Cottingham has over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She has six years of teaching experience in the field of medical billing and coding and Medical Assisting. Currently she is employed as an HIM Analyst for a Long-Term Care establishment that is based out of Alabama. Previously she was employed as the lead instructor for the Allied Health Department for a local career institute. LaTisha’s field of expertise is in the area of physician-based inpatient coding and Emergency Department coding. The certifications that she holds are as follows: a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT), a Certified Professional Coder (CPC), and a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA). In preparation for ICD-10-CM, LaTisha received her ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer Certification from American Health Information Association (AHIMA), where she is currently a member. LaTisha is also a member of the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the National Healthcare Association (NHA) where she is a test proctor.

Lydia S. Stewart

Lydia S. Stewart, RN, BSN, currently serves as the Revenue Cycle Manager at a large regional medical center. Lydia has been a Registered Nurse for 23 years, 15 of those years specializing in Critical Care Nursing and supervision. She is responsible for Medical Audits, Charge Capture, and governmental compliance audits and reviews. Lydia is a member of the Louisiana Medical Auditor Association and Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).

Bunny Reeves

Bunny Reeves is the senior ambulatory surgery coder at the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She trains student coders at Maimonides Medical Center and previously trained and supervised entry-level coders at Staten Island’s St. Vincent Medical Center. Reeves is a Certified Coding Specialist, accredited by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

Hilary Khouri

Hilary Khouri has ten years of experience in the medical field. After college, she began her medical career working in the front office of a group practice handling daily administrative tasks. Her medical experience also includes working at a healthcare consulting firm, where she reviewed electronic health records for completeness and educated providers on documentation improvement in addition to performing risk adjustment coding. She holds a bachelor’s in fashion merchandising from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is a Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) through the University of Alabama.

Instructor Interaction: The instructor looks forward to interacting with learners in the online moderated discussion area to share their expertise and answer any questions you may have on the course content.

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