Medical Billing and Coding

Objective: The medical billing and coding profession continues to evolve in the new century, and technological developments have significantly enhanced both quality and productivity. Increasing complexities in coding, changes in coding standards and the current trend in healthcare industry have all contributed to a growing need for well-trained individuals to enter the medical billing and coding profession. The objective of the diploma program in Medical Billing and Coding is to prepare students with a solid foundation of billing and coding knowledge and technological skills so that they can seek entry-level employment in the healthcare industry.

Description: The Medical Billing and Coding diploma program prepares students for entry-level billing and coding positions in a medical office, clinic, or hospital setting. Content incorporated in the program includes how to compile, compute, process and maintain patient medical records with appropriate codes for billing purposes. Principles of billing and coding include use of the CMS 1500 form, ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes, CPT codes, HIPAA confidentiality, and legal aspects.

Externship: An externship course is included in this program to provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills to real-life situations in a healthcare setting. Students are not paid for work performed at the externship site.

Credentialing Exams: Students in their final quarter are eligible to take National Health career Association's (NHA) Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) exam. Criminal convictions may affect a student's ability to be certified or registered.

All-State is committed to providing specialized training that enables each student to achieve his or her career goals. In order to do that, each prospective student attends a personalized career planning session with an admissions advisor. This session allows the student to learn about career options, and also ask questions about the school and curriculum.

• Morning: Monday through Thursday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Required externship hours may be scheduled outside of typical class sessions and will be available during typical office hours. Hours are subject to change.

Financial Assistance Programs

All-State Career maintains a staff of financial aid professionals to assist students in obtaining the financial assistance they require to meet their educational expenses. Available resources include the federal grant and state aid programs, student loans from private lenders, and federal work-study opportunities, both on and off campus. Federal assistance programs are administered through the U.S. Department of Education. Any U.S. citizen, national, or person in the United States for other than temporary reasons who is enrolled or accepted for enrollment may apply for these programs. Most forms of financial assistance are available for each July 1 – June 30 award period.

• Federal Pell Grant — An important source of aid for students; the amount of the award depends upon the determination of the student's eligibility, his or her enrollment status, cost of attendance, and a payment schedule issued by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) — A limited number of awards reserved for students who qualify based upon exceptional financial need.
• Federal Direct Loan Program (FDLP) — Both subsidized (awarded on the basis of financial need) and unsubsidized loans.
• Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) Loan Program — For parents with good credit histories who want to borrow to help pay for their children's education.
• Federal Work-Study Program (FWSP) — Provides employment for students who demonstrate financial need and who must earn a part of their educational expenses.
• Veterans' Benefits — All-State Career is approved to participate in a variety of education and training benefit programs administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Total program tuition is $17,025 (tuition only; any fees billed separately).

Career Services

Career Services continuously promotes professional relationships with employers to provide qualified career-oriented graduates to match their employment needs. The Career Services Department is the liaison between students and employers, serving the students by promoting the School to prospective employers. Through career development, including professionalism, motivation, and the maintenance of ethical standards, graduates are empowered with the skills necessary to foster a successful and on-going career.

The Career Services staff aid graduates in finding employment by assisting with resume preparation, helping with development of interviewing skills, and identifying job leads appropriate for the graduates. They may set up job interviews for graduates. Recent graduates and students approaching graduation receive first priority for job search assistance services.

Graduate candidates meet with the Director of Career Services or a member of the Career Services staff during their last term to discuss services available in their individual job search. Interviews with a member of the Career Services staff will normally be scheduled before a student is released to externship.

Obtaining employment is ultimately the graduate's responsibility. While the Career Services department will assist all graduates in good standing, graduates should independently pursue employment opportunities and not rely entirely on the efforts of the department.

Mission and Purposes

All-State Career provides postsecondary career education to both traditional and non-traditional students through a variety of diploma programs that assist adult students in enhancing their career opportunities and improving problem-solving abilities. All-State Career strives to develop within its students the desire for lifelong and continued education. All-State Career educates its students to help meet the economic needs of their community in entry-level positions.

Critical Strengths of All-State Career

• Career-oriented programs: The School's programs have been developed and are periodically reviewed in conjunction with industry advisory boards to ensure that they continue to prepare graduates according to current needs and expectations of the community of employers served by All-State Career.
• Qualified, caring faculty: In their academic credentials and professional experience, faculty members are qualified to teach the courses assigned to them, and all are committed to providing the extra assistance students may need to achieve their career goals.
• Graduate employment assistance: Students approaching graduation receive, at no additional charge, career and employment assistance in finding entry-level positions in their preferred careers.
• Personal attention: The student-to-faculty ratio helps students obtain the most from their educational investment by ensuring easy access to instructional equipment and to attentive and helpful faculty.

A laptop and laptop technical support is included with the program's fees; however, students are responsible for ensuring that they have a working internet connection. Laptop hardware, software, and a reliable Internet connection are the primary means of participating in Canvas.