Frequently Asked Questions
All Foundation Billing and Medical Coding classes are online independent self-study programs. you can view classes at your own pace and are given up to 4 months to complete the Basic Anatomy and Medical Terminology course, 6 months to complete the Introduction to Medical Billing and Coding course, and 6 months to complete the AAPC CPC Certification course. Foundation Billing and Medical Coding classes are unique due to detailed audio/video recordings of each class. These classes are practical courses that require you to actively participate during the class.
Vocational schools are designed to prepare the student to enter the Medical Billing and Coding career field. They are typically degree programs that include business classes as well as medical billing and coding. These courses may not provide intense training or taught by an instructor that has successfully passed the CPC® examination in order to prepare students to be successful for the examination. Foundation Billing and Medical Coding does not have admission representatives that work on commission to enroll students. We do not call potential students after inquiries (unless requested by the student). Foundation Billing and Medical Coding’s educational background is based on 25 years of personal experience in the field and I believe in quality, not quantity of students that attend.
Foundation Billing and Medical Coding is not a degree program and core classes are removed. I focus only on medical billing, coding, anatomy, medical terminology and prepare the student for the CPC® examinations. Classroom time is approximately 110 hours (not including individual study time).
Foundation Billing and Medical Coding is committed to the success of its students. You can email Tammy Sue directly for questions or you can speak to her directly at 970-451-6158. She is also available evenings and weekends for phone calls and emails.
Yes. Some students like to take one class at a time, while others like to take more than one. It is an individual decision.
Anatomy/Medical Terminology can be taken simultaneously with Introduction to Medical Billing and Coding. Due to the intensity of the CPC® Certification class, it is recommended study dedicated only to this class. Some employers will require a certification and not a degree in Medical Billing and Coding.
Each class is approximately 1–½ hours long. Students are given 4 months to complete the Basic Anatomy and Medical Terminology course, 6 months to complete the Introduction to Medical Billing and Coding course, and 6 months to complete the AAPC CPC Certification course. It is recommended to take 1 class per week to finish the courses.
You must be self-motivated, self-directed and have the desire to achieve self-fulfillment to achieve personal goals. You must be self-disciplined to watch and complete each class and course. It is recommended the minimum of 1 class per week.
Do not let online classes intimidate you. Foundation Billing and Medical Coding does everything for you. You will have one-on-one training on how to navigate around the classroom. You will find the program easy to maneuver with no difficulty.
The Basic Medical Terminology and Anatomy is designed for students entering in the world of coding. Students need to know anatomy and medical terminology to be a successful coder. The Introduction to Medical Billing/Coding is also a beginner’s class and no experience is required but I do recommend the Basic Anatomy and Medical Terminology class to assist students in assigning proper ICD-10-CM and CPT® codes.
A high school diploma is not required to attend Foundation Billing and Medical Coding. To receive your CPC® certification, High School diploma or GED is required.
To participate in Foundation Billing and Medical Coding Online Classes, you need to have a computer with Internet access (high-speed preferred). There is no special software required but headphones are recommended to minimize and distractions.
Foundation Billing and Medical Coding is an approved school through the Colorado Department of Private and Occupational Schools. The school is bonded to protect the student. Tammy Sue is a certified instructor through AAPC.
CMRS and CMCS are national certification through AMBA. The CPC® Certification through AAPC is a national certification. No state license is required.
No. First of all, no school can guarantee a job after completion. After completing the classes students have all the qualifications to get into the field. There are so many factors involved. How do you present yourself or sell yourself at the interview, attitude, dependability, and truthfulness will get you the job. Sometimes it is being at the right place at the right time, knowing someone, etc. If you send out two resumes and expect to get a job, it probably will not happen. It is a competitive world out there, not in just this field but in all fields. I tell students to get in the door, even if it’s not the job you want. Most employers hire from within. If you are determined to find a job, you will. The last class of the Introduction to Medical Billing and Coding prepares our students on resume’s, and interviewing.
Receptionist, Referral Specialist, Billing Specialist, Data Entry, Scheduler, Collections Specialist, Patient Representative, and many more. Everyone calls the same job different names. Do not look for “Medical Billing and Coding Jobs.” The types of positions listed above fall under the category of Medical Billing and Coding jobs.
Physician offices, Physical Therapy Offices, Home Health Agencies, Hospice Centers, Out-Patient Facilities, Hospital Billing Departments, Hospital Admissions, Nursing Homes, Independent Billing Companies. Any company that works with ICD-10-CM, CPT and HCPCS codes or billing, would hire you with your knowledge base.
Anyone that says this is not very familiar with the Medical Billing and Coding field. Can you imagine doctors filling their own claims, working appeals and denials, checking in their own patients for visits, entering all the data, calling for referrals, etc.?
What is going away is Medical Transcription. Some people get Medical Transcription confused with Medical Coding and Billing and they are two different fields. Before electronic medical records doctors would document their patient encounters by talking through a dictaphone and the medical transcriptist would type up their notes to be placed in the medical records. Now with new technology of Electronic Medical Records (also known as EMR’s) and the physicians type their own notes in the computer during the patient encounter. Physicians still need help with coding their claims and filing them however computers cannot replace coders in the workplace.
It is possible to work from home but do not count on it, especially just starting in the field. Employers want to get to know you, your work ethic, etc. before they would ever let someone work from home. This could be a 2-year process and HIPAA rules and regulations have made a difference with people working at home. I believe in being honest with people. If a company claims that if you take their course, you can work from home, I would be skeptical. If a company tried to sell you software to work from your home, it is a scam. Be very careful of these tactics.
I would hope that you would attend my school because I not only offer high quality programs but have a high-quality instructor that has been in the field, understands the field, and delivers a superior academic program.
I do not want just anyone attending my school. I want only those students that are dedicated to making a positive change in their career, have a positive attitude and want to make a difference. If you want a quality education, you have come to the right place.
Not only do I want successful students but I continue to mentor and assist students with their career after completion of classes.
This class we teaching physician coding and not hospital coding. Hopsital coding is different and they focus on ICD-10-PCS which in inpatient coding for procedures. Physicians use ICD-10-CM and CPT® to describe services they perform and the patient diagnosis.
I take pride in being available for questions 7 days a week. I will be available daytime, evenings and week-ends. Questions can be asked by email, text or calling me directly. All students will have my personal cell phone to call and is never answered by anyone else but me. If you text a message please remember to put your name on the text.
Some organizations you can only ask questions by email, which may take days to get any answer or phone calls that are not available on week-ends or evenings. I know students often work on week-ends and want to be available to answer those questions and not feel frustrated.