Medical Coding Course: Eligibility, Syllabus, Courses List, Scope

Some of the popular medical coding courses in India are offered by top institutions such as Pune Medical Coding Training Institute, Henry Harvin, Academy of Medical Coders in India, etc. The medical coding course duration varies between 6 months to 3 years depending on the type of course from diploma to undergraduate level. 

The medical coding course refers to putting a patient's medical information into an alphanumeric code. The medical coding course syllabus focuses on topics such as Medical Terminology, Medical Ethics, ICD-9-CM Coding Manual, Infections using ICD-9-CM, etc. The eligibility criteria for admission to a medical coding course is that the candidate must have completed 10+2 with at least 50% marks in any stream from any recognised institution. 

The average medical coding fee ranges from INR 12,000 - 2,00,000 per year. Medical coders are employed in various settings such as healthcare industries, insurance agencies, nursing homes, government agencies, etc. Students can enrol in popular medical coding courses such as Certified Professional Coder (CPC), Certified Medical Coder (CMC), Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC), etc. 

Table of Contents:

• What is Medical Coding Course?
• Medical Coding Course: Overview
• Medical Coding Course: Eligibility Criteria
• Medical Coding Course List
• Medical Coding Course: Fee Structure
• Medical Coding Course: Syllabus
• Steps to Become a Medical Coder
  • Medical Coder: Duties and Responsibilities
• Medical Coding Course: Career Scope
• Medical Coding Course Jobs in India
• Medical Coding Course: Skills Required
• Top Institutions for Medical Coding

What is a Medical Coding Course?

Medical Coding course or certifications enables students to decode relevant medical information into simple codes to document medical records and implicate specific medical billing. The medical coding course equips students with the knowledge and skills required to transform any healthcare diagnosis, equipment, and treatment plans into universal medical alphanumeric codes.

Medical coding courses are a type of educational program that teaches individuals how to code medical procedures and diagnoses using various coding systems properly. Medical coders collect and convert data into simple codes that anyone can access easily.

Also Read: List of Top Private Medical Colleges in India 2024

Medical Coding Course: Overview

Few important points to understand about medical coding course available in India. 

Also Read: Medical Courses Other than MBBS

Medical Coding Course: Eligibility Criteria

To seek a medical coding course, a person must have a bachelor's degree or master's degree, first from a medical science backdrop or anything relevant. There are some specific medical coding course eligibility criteria, which are listed below:

• Medical coding course qualification criteria require the aspirant to graduate from medical science or life-sciences courses.
• Medical coding course eligibility includes aspirants to have a minimum of 50% aggregate in their undergraduate degree.
• Graduates from any domain are eligible for medical coding courses and are mandatorily required to know anatomy and physiology modules. 
• So far, no age limit is included in India's medical coding course qualification.

Also Read: Diploma Courses in Medical Field

Medical Coding Course List

Medical coding course is conducted worldwide, with most nations adopting the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). ICD is advanced by the World Health Organization and revised by each member country to complete its obligations. In India, there are six standard HIPAA-mandated code sets for different needs. Medical coding courses are differentiated by the type of coding method and the code's purpose. Some of the popular medical coding course in India are listed below:

• Procedure Codes (CPT: Current Procedural Terminology)
• Diagnosis Codes (ICD: International Classification of Disease)
• Dental Procedure Codes (CDT: Current Dental Terminology)
• Another Procedure Codes (HCPCS: Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System)
• Drug Codes (NDC: National Drug Codes)
• Coding for Inpatient Services (ICD)
• Certified Professional Coder
• Certified Medical Coder
• Certified Coding Associate

Also Read: Top Private Medical Colleges With Low Fees Structure

Medical Coding Course: Fee Structure

The medical coding course fee varies depending on the type of course and duration. However, the average medical coding fee ranges from INR 12,000 - 2,00,000 per year. 

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Medical Coding Course: Syllabus

Medical coding course duration depends upon the type of certification opted by the aspirant. In general, the medical coding course duration is 150 hours and ranges from 2 to 8 months of study, depending upon the type of certification or specialization opted.

The medical coding course syllabus is charted on basic medical science concepts combined with diagnostic coding for particular domains. Students are provided more practical training on CPT coding and ICD coding. 

The general medical coding syllabus include: 

• Introduction to Medical Terminology
• Anatomy Structure
• Medical Terminology
• Medical Ethics
• ICD-9-CM Coding Manual
• Infections using ICD-9-CM
•  Digestive System using ICD-9-CM
•  Coding for Pregnancy using ICD-9-CM
•  CPT Coding for Reproductive Systems
• Coding for Mental Disorders using ICR-9-CM 

Also Read: List of Semi Government Medical Colleges in India 2024

Steps to Become a Medical Coder

After completing the medical coding course syllabus, medical coders can earn professional credentials that separate them from the pack and kickstart their careers. Medical coders develop a vast array of professional expertise with medical coding course qualifications. In addition to being analytical and detail-oriented, medical coders must communicate accurately with physicians and hospital administration teams about patient data. Here is a step-by-step guide to becoming a medical coder:

• Step 1: One to four years of post-secondary education.
• Step 2: Earn preliminary credentialing for at least six months.
• Step 3: Get work experience of one to two years.
• Step 4: Earn additional credentials for one to two years.
• Step 5: Pursue continuing education

Medical Coder: Duties and Responsibilities

A medical biller and coder will have, usually, the same kind of duties no matter what sort of facility they're hired. From clinics to hospitals to practitioners' departments, medical billers and coders utilize medical codes to document patient examinations and therapies. Specifically, their duties involve:

• Understanding and interpreting patient records.
• Defining the correct codes for patient records.
• Using codes to invoice insurance providers.
• Communicating with practitioners and assistants to assure correctness.
• Managing trail of patient data over recurring visits.
• Maintaining detailed and individually coded information.
• Maintaining patient confidentiality and data security.

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Medical Coding Course: Career Scope

While each of the other sectors and work is being influenced by technology and automation, medical coding course may not encounter many challenges in terms of human sources.

Medical coding has plenty of scopes both in India and abroad in terms of employment. Technological advancements have boosted all sectors, and the demand for medical coders has become imminent. 

Medical Coding Course Scope In India

Medical coding course means that it is completely automated, and there are no physical challenges for a developing sector. Therefore, there is much scope and need for medical coding in the upcoming ages. 

• The urgency and requirement for medical coding will only keep soaring since the new computer-assisted coding progress (CAC) has exclusively helped reduce the job burden of medical coders over the world. 
• It is a device that helps enhance productivity and further increases the highly significant coding method's efficiency. Automated coding is a measure towards treating claims quicker as well. It is helping save charges and alleviating the task of coding transactions.

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Medical Coding Course Jobs in India

Medical billers and coders play a requisite role in connecting health care providers, patients, and insurance corporations and work interrelated. 

• Job Roles
• Top Recruiters
• Salary

On a day-to-day basis, medical coders will be administering all types of patient charts, which requires proper coding with accuracy and billing to insurance companies. 

• Hospitals
• Physicians' offices
• Nursing care facilities
• Home health care services
• Insurance Companies
• Medical Insurance Companies

Medical Coding Course: Job Roles

• Certified Professional Coder
• Reimbursement Specialist
• Coding Specialist 
• Medical Record Unit Manager
• Medical Coder
• Medical billing expert
• Medical Records Specialist
• Health Information Expert
• Medical Records Administrator
• Health Information Specialist
• Claims processor/Claims Reviewer
• Patient Account Representative
• Medical Collector

Medical Coding Course: Top Recruiters

• Med-Rec Solutions
• Omega Healthcare
• KIMS Hospitals
• Recoup Med
• UnitedHealthcare
• Cognizant
• Bajaj|Allianz
• Apollo Hospitals

Medical Coding Salary in India

• The average salary earned by eligible students with medical coding course qualifications in India is INR 2.63 lakh for companies like Omega Healthcare and Vee Technologies Pvt Ltd. 
• Recited wages are highest at AJUBA Solutions, where the average pay is INR 4.30 LPA. Other companies that offer high payrolls for this position include Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp and Omega Healthcare, making about INR 3.7 LPA sequentially. 
• GeBBS Healthcare Solutions gives the lowest at around INR 2.50 LPA.
•  Other companies listed are Business Solutions and Vee Technologies Pvt Ltd also pays on the lower edge of the scale, paying INR 2.63 - 2.65 LPA, respectively.

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Medical Coding Course: Skills Required

There are some medical coding course qualification & technical skills that medical coders are required to achieve in this field, but transferable skills are essential. The data revealed the most important skills employers are seeking.

Medical coding is a relaxed job, but the on-time process is crucial. A person in this field must possess top skills to handle the required position.

Following are the top skills that graduates must obtain before joining the workplace:

Top Technical Skills for Medical Coding Course

• ICD-10
• Customer billing
• Health information technology
• CPT coding
• Inpatient coding
• Outpatient coding
• ICD-9
• Anatomy
• HCPCS coding
• Clinical documentation

Top Transferable Skills  for Medical Coding Course

• Communication
• Research
• Computer literacy
• Microsoft Office
• Attention to detail
• Collaboration
• Organization
• Analytical skills
• Problem-solving
• Time management

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Top Institutes for Medical Coding Course

Unlike conventional degree programs, medical coding course is offered in institutes and not in normal colleges. Numerous institutes are offering medical coding certifications across the country. Some of the top institutes are offering medical coding course are :

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