TSC1840 - Introduction to Coding Systems

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Introduction to Coding Systems introduces learners to the principal U.S. medical coding systems used to translate diagnoses, procedures, supplies, and services into standardized healthcare data. Four connected topics anchor the course: Overview of Medical Coding Systems; ICD-10-CM – Diagnostic Coding Framework; CPT – Current Procedural Terminology; and HCPCS Level II – Supplies and Ancillary Services. This progression helps students connect foundational concepts, professional methods, analytical judgment, and applied decision-making in realistic healthcare documentation and reimbursement environments.

Scenario-based exercises and a final applied task move the material from explanation to workplace use. Throughout the course, students practice distinguishing ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS functions, interpreting clinical documentation, selecting specific codes, applying modifiers, and considering reimbursement effects, producing a coded clinical scenario using ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II with justification and reimbursement analysis that can be discussed in exam-style questions and transferred to professional assignments.

KEY POINTS

  1. Overview of Medical Coding Systems: Establishes the terminology, principles, and professional context needed to understand the topic’s significance and its connection to sound decisions.
  2. ICD-10-CM – Diagnostic Coding Framework: Examines practical workflows, tools, and standards that support consistent, efficient, and defensible execution.
  3. CPT – Current Procedural Terminology: Develops the ability to recognize risks or constraints, compare alternatives, and select appropriate controls, methods, or responses.
  4. HCPCS Level II – Supplies and Ancillary Services: Connects course knowledge to planning, documentation, measurement, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  5. Applied Practice: Uses scenarios and practical exercises to produce a coded clinical scenario using ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II with justification and reimbursement analysis and to justify decisions with evidence and accepted professional practice.
  6. Professional Standards and Readiness: Reinforces coding specificity, documentation integrity, payer compliance, annual code-set updates, ethical billing, and defensible rationale for exam-style review and workplace application.

CORE LEARNING OUTCOMES

  1. Foundational Knowledge: Explain the principles, purpose, and professional significance of Topic 1, “Overview of Medical Coding Systems,” within the principal U.S. medical coding systems used to translate diagnoses, procedures, supplies, and services into standardized healthcare data.
  2. Methods and Tools: Apply structured methods, appropriate tools, and accepted practices to the work addressed in Topic 2, “ICD-10-CM – Diagnostic Coding Framework.”
  3. Analysis and Judgment: Analyze the conditions presented in Topic 3, “CPT – Current Procedural Terminology”; identify significant risks or opportunities; and select a defensible response.
  4. Solution Development: Develop and justify a practical approach to Topic 4, “HCPCS Level II – Supplies and Ancillary Services.”
  5. Applied Deliverable: Produce a coded clinical scenario using ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II with justification and reimbursement analysis that demonstrates accurate, ethical, and well-documented application of course concepts.
  6. Professional Communication: Communicate findings and recommendations using terminology, documentation standards, and evidence appropriate to healthcare documentation and reimbursement environments.
TSC1880 - ICD-10-CM Coding Practices

COURSE DESCRIPTION

ICD-10-CM Coding Practices introduces learners to advanced ICD-10-CM structure, documentation integrity, diagnosis sequencing, risk adjustment, and coding-audit readiness. Four connected topics anchor the course: Overview and Structure of ICD-10-CM; Coding Accuracy and Documentation Integrity; Advanced Coding Scenarios and HCC Mapping; and Coding Audits, Compliance, and Updates. This progression helps students connect foundational concepts, professional methods, analytical judgment, and applied decision-making in realistic clinical coding and compliance environments.

Scenario-based exercises and a final applied task move the material from explanation to workplace use. Throughout the course, students practice navigating ICD-10-CM hierarchy, validating codes against documentation, drafting compliant queries, mapping hierarchical condition categories, and conducting coding audits, producing a mini audit of coded encounters that identifies documentation gaps, coding risks, and clinical-documentation improvement actions that can be discussed in exam-style questions and transferred to professional assignments.

KEY POINTS

  1. Overview and Structure of ICD-10-CM: Establishes the terminology, principles, and professional context needed to understand the topic’s significance and its connection to sound decisions.
  2. Coding Accuracy and Documentation Integrity: Examines practical workflows, tools, and standards that support consistent, efficient, and defensible execution.
  3. Advanced Coding Scenarios and HCC Mapping: Develops the ability to recognize risks or constraints, compare alternatives, and select appropriate controls, methods, or responses.
  4. Coding Audits, Compliance, and Updates: Connects course knowledge to planning, documentation, measurement, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  5. Applied Practice: Uses scenarios and practical exercises to produce a mini audit of coded encounters that identifies documentation gaps, coding risks, and clinical-documentation improvement actions and to justify decisions with evidence and accepted professional practice.
  6. Professional Standards and Readiness: Reinforces HIPAA code-set requirements, official ICD-10-CM guidance, documentation integrity, auditability, ethical coding, and current annual updates for exam-style review and workplace application.

CORE LEARNING OUTCOMES

  1. Foundational Knowledge: Explain the principles, purpose, and professional significance of Topic 1, “Overview and Structure of ICD-10-CM,” within advanced ICD-10-CM structure, documentation integrity, diagnosis sequencing, risk adjustment, and coding-audit readiness.
  2. Methods and Tools: Apply structured methods, appropriate tools, and accepted practices to the work addressed in Topic 2, “Coding Accuracy and Documentation Integrity.”
  3. Analysis and Judgment: Analyze the conditions presented in Topic 3, “Advanced Coding Scenarios and HCC Mapping”; identify significant risks or opportunities; and select a defensible response.
  4. Solution Development: Develop and justify a practical approach to Topic 4, “Coding Audits, Compliance, and Updates.”
  5. Applied Deliverable: Produce a mini audit of coded encounters that identifies documentation gaps, coding risks, and clinical-documentation improvement actions that demonstrates accurate, ethical, and well-documented application of course concepts.
  6. Professional Communication: Communicate findings and recommendations using terminology, documentation standards, and evidence appropriate to clinical coding and compliance environments.
TSC1885 - CPT/HCPCS Coding Basics

COURSE DESCRIPTION

CPT/HCPCS Coding Basics introduces learners to procedural and supply coding through CPT and HCPCS, including modifiers, bundling rules, NCCI edits, and payer-specific compliance. Four connected topics anchor the course: Introduction to CPT and HCPCS; CPT Coding Conventions and Modifiers; Bundling, Unbundling, and the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI); and HCPCS Level II Applications and Payer Compliance. This progression helps students connect foundational concepts, professional methods, analytical judgment, and applied decision-making in realistic outpatient coding and claims environments.

Scenario-based exercises and a final applied task move the material from explanation to workplace use. Throughout the course, students practice selecting CPT and HCPCS codes, applying modifiers, detecting improper unbundling, checking NCCI edits, and validating documentation against payer requirements, producing a procedural coding map for a multi-service outpatient encounter, including codes, modifiers, NCCI conflicts, and compliance notes that can be discussed in exam-style questions and transferred to professional assignments.

KEY POINTS

  1. Introduction to CPT and HCPCS: Establishes the terminology, principles, and professional context needed to understand the topic’s significance and its connection to sound decisions.
  2. CPT Coding Conventions and Modifiers: Examines practical workflows, tools, and standards that support consistent, efficient, and defensible execution.
  3. Bundling, Unbundling, and the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI): Develops the ability to recognize risks or constraints, compare alternatives, and select appropriate controls, methods, or responses.
  4. HCPCS Level II Applications and Payer Compliance: Connects course knowledge to planning, documentation, measurement, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  5. Applied Practice: Uses scenarios and practical exercises to produce a procedural coding map for a multi-service outpatient encounter, including codes, modifiers, NCCI conflicts, and compliance notes and to justify decisions with evidence and accepted professional practice.
  6. Professional Standards and Readiness: Reinforces AMA and CMS coding conventions, NCCI compliance, medical necessity, payer rules, annual updates, and accurate claim documentation for exam-style review and workplace application.

CORE LEARNING OUTCOMES

  1. Foundational Knowledge: Explain the principles, purpose, and professional significance of Topic 1, “Introduction to CPT and HCPCS,” within procedural and supply coding through CPT and HCPCS, including modifiers, bundling rules, NCCI edits, and payer-specific compliance.
  2. Methods and Tools: Apply structured methods, appropriate tools, and accepted practices to the work addressed in Topic 2, “CPT Coding Conventions and Modifiers.”
  3. Analysis and Judgment: Analyze the conditions presented in Topic 3, “Bundling, Unbundling, and the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI)”; identify significant risks or opportunities; and select a defensible response.
  4. Solution Development: Develop and justify a practical approach to Topic 4, “HCPCS Level II Applications and Payer Compliance.”
  5. Applied Deliverable: Produce a procedural coding map for a multi-service outpatient encounter, including codes, modifiers, NCCI conflicts, and compliance notes that demonstrates accurate, ethical, and well-documented application of course concepts.
  6. Professional Communication: Communicate findings and recommendations using terminology, documentation standards, and evidence appropriate to outpatient coding and claims environments.
TSC1900 - Capstone Billing/Coding Project & Exam Preparation

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Capstone Billing/Coding Project & Exam Preparation introduces learners to integrated revenue-cycle practice, audit and compliance readiness, complex billing and coding casework, and certification preparation. Four connected topics anchor the course: Integrating Revenue Cycle Components; Advanced Audit and Compliance Readiness; Case Study – Comprehensive Revenue Cycle Project; and Exam Preparation and Certification Readiness. This progression helps students connect foundational concepts, professional methods, analytical judgment, and applied decision-making in realistic healthcare revenue-cycle management environments.

Scenario-based exercises and a final applied task move the material from explanation to workplace use. Throughout the course, students practice coordinating registration, charge capture, coding, claims, payment, denials, appeals, audits, root-cause analysis, and structured exam review, producing a comprehensive revenue-cycle management plan covering claims, denials, appeals, audit readiness, and compliance reporting that can be discussed in exam-style questions and transferred to professional assignments.

KEY POINTS

  1. Integrating Revenue Cycle Components: Establishes the terminology, principles, and professional context needed to understand the topic’s significance and its connection to sound decisions.
  2. Advanced Audit and Compliance Readiness: Examines practical workflows, tools, and standards that support consistent, efficient, and defensible execution.
  3. Case Study – Comprehensive Revenue Cycle Project: Develops the ability to recognize risks or constraints, compare alternatives, and select appropriate controls, methods, or responses.
  4. Exam Preparation and Certification Readiness: Connects course knowledge to planning, documentation, measurement, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  5. Applied Practice: Uses scenarios and practical exercises to produce a comprehensive revenue-cycle management plan covering claims, denials, appeals, audit readiness, and compliance reporting and to justify decisions with evidence and accepted professional practice.
  6. Professional Standards and Readiness: Reinforces CMS, HHS, and OIG expectations, evidence-based appeals, audit trails, ethical revenue integrity, performance measurement, and certification readiness for exam-style review and workplace application.

CORE LEARNING OUTCOMES

  1. Foundational Knowledge: Explain the principles, purpose, and professional significance of Topic 1, “Integrating Revenue Cycle Components,” within integrated revenue-cycle practice, audit and compliance readiness, complex billing and coding casework, and certification preparation.
  2. Methods and Tools: Apply structured methods, appropriate tools, and accepted practices to the work addressed in Topic 2, “Advanced Audit and Compliance Readiness.”
  3. Analysis and Judgment: Analyze the conditions presented in Topic 3, “Case Study – Comprehensive Revenue Cycle Project”; identify significant risks or opportunities; and select a defensible response.
  4. Solution Development: Develop and justify a practical approach to Topic 4, “Exam Preparation and Certification Readiness.”
  5. Applied Deliverable: Produce a comprehensive revenue-cycle management plan covering claims, denials, appeals, audit readiness, and compliance reporting that demonstrates accurate, ethical, and well-documented application of course concepts.
  6. Professional Communication: Communicate findings and recommendations using terminology, documentation standards, and evidence appropriate to healthcare revenue-cycle management environments.