Medical insurance billers and coders need an understanding of the human body and the body's systems, such as the cardiovascular and reproductive systems. A course in anatomy and physiology gives coders the basic knowledge, enabling them to read and comprehend a physician's report and assign the correct procedure codes to the insurance claim form.
Professional billers and coders need to complete a class designed to teach the skills required to pronounce, spell and understand the meaning of medical terms. Successful completion of a medical terminology class will enable a coder to read a term such as cardiology, and determine that cardi(a) means of or pertaining to the heart and logy means the study of; therefore, cardiology is the study of the heart.
A course in typing and 10-key skills will help the student gain the proficiency and speed required of medical billers and coders. Insurance claim forms must be completed correctly, with the exact code for each diagnosis and procedure. Keying errors will result in claim rejections, thus negatively impacting both time and financial resources. Students need proper keystroke technique and hours of practice to perfect word processing skills.