Get the Skills to Be a Medical Office Professional
Online Medical Billing & Coding Training in 2 Years*
Interested in a career in the medical field? Are you the type of person who enjoys helping others?
A career in Medical Billing and Coding may be just the right fit for you. In this career-focused program, students learn the skills to market themselves to future employers in the fast-paced fields of medical insurance billing, medical coding, and various medical front office responsibilities.
All the Things You’ll Learn
The standards for accuracy in health insurance claims processing are becoming more exacting at the same time that health insurance plan options are rapidly expanding. These changes, coupled with modifications in regulations affecting the health insurance industry, are a constant challenge to medical office personnel.
Among the topics covered in the Medical Billing and Coding Occupational Associate Degree program are:
- Medical Terminology
- Health Insurance
- Diagnosis Coding
- Electronic Medical Billing
- Medical Billing Processes
- Medical Front Office
- Health Care Facility
- Medical Management Supervision
- Human Resource Issues
Here’s How You’ll Grow with Us
Upon completion of the Medical Billing and Coding Occupational Associate degree, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of medical terminology and the importance of spelling
- Identify both CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) code and ICD-10 (Diagnostic Coding) guidelines, and how to look up codes
- Show proficiency in filling out various forms with regard to billing such as CMS-1500 claim form, appeals letters, and denial letters
- Read EOB’s, aging reports, and financial policies within the medical office
- Identify different types of insurance plans, and insurance terminology
- Understand HIPAA guidelines including HIPAA privacy and HIPAA security rule
- Demonstrate the importance of time management skills, communication, scheduling, and teamwork
Is a Career as a Medical Office Professional Right for You? Find Out! Take the "Laurus College Medical Office Career Training Readiness Quiz"
This fun, online quiz takes 3 minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style plus the training and positions you’re best suited for. Get your Medical Office Career Readiness Score Now >>
Where You Could Be in a Couple Short Years
Grads with Medical Billing & Coding training may find employment in a wide range of interesting and rewarding positions, including
- Medical Records & Health Information Technicians
- Medical Receptionist & Information Clerk
- Insurance Policy Processing Clerk
- Medical Coding Specialist
- Patient Services Coordinator
- and more!
With so many professional opportunities available to people with the right qualifications, Laurus can prepare you for a career that will take you to that next level in life.
The best way to see if Laurus College is the right fit for you is to see it for yourself. You can tour our facilities by coming in to any of our campus locations, or we’re happy to set up a virtual tour with you. Book a Tour Now or Get more info.
You already have a life. We appreciate that!
If you’re juggling work and a family, you’re busy. Our unique learning model gives you greater freedom and flexibility to learn on your own schedule.
That means you’re in control of your learning experience. All you have to do is take that first important step, because there’s a lot of demand for skilled medical billing and coding professionals. Training with Laurus for a career in medical billing and coding, with all our dedicated support from Day 1 till the day you land that dream job, is a great move.
Develop the ability to process health insurance claims by learning the many aspects of medical insurance, including plan options, carrier requirements, various regulations, extraction of relevant information from source documents, accurate claim form completion, and diagnosis and procedure coding.
If you’re ready to move up in life and create a brighter future with a fulfilling medical office career, now is the right time to be discovering Laurus College.
Through programs led by industry professionals, Laurus has helped motivated people get the skills, experience, and ongoing support to pursue successful careers.
The Laurus Advantage
Practical, Career-Focused Training that prepares you for an in-demand career.
Supportive Learning Environment where instructors care about your success.
Flexible Scheduling Options that include both day and evening classes.
Laptop Included – Students attending classes in an Occupational Associate or Bachelor’s Degree program are given the opportunity to receive a laptop computer loaded with all of the software needed to complete their program.
Job Search Assistance through our Career Services Department, including resume & portfolio creation, interview preparation and live workshops.
Meet the Faculty
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Rebecca Sandoval
Department Director
Medical Billing Department
Rebecca Sandoval has worked in the medical field for over 17 years. She started in the chart room and eventually moved into a position where she was in charge of obtaining authorizations. As she continued to learn more about insurance companies and coding guidelines, she was then trained for the billing position and eventually spent several years as a Medical Office Coordinator.
Rebecca has been employed with Laurus College for 8 years. In her spare time, she enjoys going for walks on the beach and hiking.
Rebecca Sandoval has been teaching at Laurus College since February 2012.
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Norma Walker
Instructor
Medical Billing Department
Known for her friendliness and attention to detail, Ms. Walker has been teaching medical billing and coding at Laurus College since 2012. She takes pride in helping students succeed in the classroom so that they can enter the healthcare field as confident and outgoing professionals.
As a young mother, Norma always dreamed of doing extraordinary things with her life. She tried her hardest, no matter what “road bumps” or “hurdles” she faced, in order to achieve her dreams. Now, as an instructor, Norma encourages her students to do the same.
Norma Walker has been teaching at Laurus since 2012
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Charla Gonzales-Sanchez
Instructor
Medical Billing Department
Charla Gonzales-Sanchez has spent over 20 years in the Medical industry. She has worked in various areas of Medical office; Clinical Administration; and Billing & Coding. Ms. Gonzales-Sanchez is a professional in her industry and has been recognized for her continued efforts in her field.
As a graduate with honors, Ms. Gonzales-Sanchez strives to bring that same level of accomplishment to all her students and their studies.
Charla Gonzales-Sanchez as been teaching at Laurus since 2013
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Sheryl Munoz
Instructor
Medical Billing Department
Sheryl Munoz has worked in the healthcare industry for over 18 years. She started in a large healthcare organization and then moved to various medical offices of different specialty physicians. She has both an AA and a BA degree in Healthcare Administration.
Sheryl’s knowledge of the healthcare industry from medical billing, claims processing, conducting training, and overseeing an entire medical office, along with keeping up-to-date in her area of expertise has enhanced her teaching at Laurus College. She enjoys using her skills to guide students from the time they start and even after they finish school so they can have a rewarding career in the healthcare industry.
Sheryl always tells her students “I have the upmost respect that you have taken the first step, even though you may have a busy schedule whether it be working, taking care of your children, or just life itself to attend class. This first step will be the best decision you have ever made and you will reap the rewards.”
Sheryl Munoz has been teaching at Laurus since 2013
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Patricia Lincoln
Instructor
Medical Billing Department
Patricia is a CPC (Certified Professional Coder) with an extensive background in medical coding, billing, compliance, and related fields. She has taught coding, billing, and terminology courses academically, as well as trained and managed many coders professionally over the years. Patricia has also taught medical documentation seminars for groups of physicians in various cities across the U.S.
As one of a three-member team, Patricia developed the medical coding audit program and department for a large national medical coding and billing company. At various times throughout her career, Patricia has been responsible for interpreting federal guidelines; responding to coding challenges/questions; and for developing coder training as well as physician documentation training materials. Additionally, she has conducted countless medical coding audits for various physician-based and out-patient hospital clients and has worked as a consultant on health care and medical billing fraud whistleblower legal cases.
Of all the interesting and exciting things Patricia has done in her career, she says the most rewarding and enjoyable is being an instructor at Laurus College. Patricia admires and respects her students and colleagues, and is proud to work together with her students, as a team, helping them to achieve their educational goals in the medical coding and billing field.
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Amy Hawkins
Instructor
Medical Billing Department
Amy Hawkins has over has over 22 years of experience in the medical field in various Medical Front & Back Office positions. She has been teaching in higher education for 15 years. After graduating with honors, Ms. Hawkins started out in medical records. She quickly worked my way up to the supervisor of the administrative front office, and long after that worked her way up to the Billing and Coding/ Business Office. Ms. Hawkins then worked my way into working in the Clinical Back Office. Where she learned how to schedule and assist with surgeries.
Ms. Hawkins has been teaching for 13 years in various medical programs, and was the Lead Trainer and Curriculumn Developer for new hire Medical Instructors. She feels very fortunate to be agle to teach what she has learned in the medical field.
Ms. Hawkins says that teaching helps to feed her passion for helping people and describes her teaching philosophy through a quote:
“When you teach what you love
and share what you know
you open eyes, minds, hearts and souls
To unexplored worlds.”
-Author Unknown - ×
Erica Gray
Instructor
Medical Billing Department
Mrs. Gray has over 8 years of experience in the medical field. She started as a medical receptionist working for a podiatrist. Ms. Gray then moved on to being in charge of the front office working for a busy Gynecologist office where she oversaw the registration process, triaged phone calls and was a patient liaison that bridged the gap between the office itself and the outside billing office when the patient’s had billing issues. Eventually, she began working as an assistant medical biller for a medical billing and coding company, but was soon promoted to a revenue cycle management account manager where she coordinated the entire billing cycle of medical claims for seven different offices with combined revenues close to a million dollars.
Erica loves what she does and it really shows in her classroom. She has a laid back approach to teaching and thinks learning should be enjoyable.
Is a Rewarding Career as Medical Office Professional Right for You? Get More Info…
If you’d like to know more about the careers available to grads of our Medical Billing & Coding program and explore whether Laurus is right for you, fill out the formon this page to receive more information.
For immediate questions, call 805-267-1690
* Program length when completed in normal time.