Top 6 Free Medical Billing and Coding Courses Online (2022)

Read About The 6 Free Medical Billing and Coding Courses Online to Kickstart Your Career in The Healthcare Industry.

Have you always had an interest in medical billing and coding? But you don’t have the right resources to kickstart your journey? Then this is the right article for you. In this article, we will be covering the free medical billing and coding courses online, while also sharing the duration and the requirement it takes to cover each course.

But before that, let’s take a look at what medical billing and coding actually mean.

What is Medical Billing and Coding?

Even in the healthcare industry, there is a code for everything. Right from the minute a patient walks through the door of a healthcare facility- to the moment he or she is first diagnosed and treated. Everything is on record and monitored.

The patient’s records and data are then converted into a code by the professionals and technicians. The purpose is to help healthcare providers get fair compensation for the service they offer. This is basically what medical billing and coding comprise.

In a nutshell, medical billing and coding is done to:

•        Identify and record patients’ diagnosis, tests, and treatments
•        Convert the data into a code format
•        And help physicians get their reimbursement through insurance companies and government authorities.

These professionals act as a link between the patient, healthcare facility, and insurance companies. They perform a critical role of keeping a record of the care provided to the patient, their insurance plan, and payment method.

But the question still remains. How do you really become a medical biller or a coder?

To answer this question, we did a thorough research of various courses available, and came up with a list of top 6 free medical billing and coding courses online that will help you become a professional in this industry.

 Top Free Medical Billing And Coding Courses Online

1# PPMC- Udemy:

PPMC’s Free medical billing and coding course is well-loved by many students. It has 11,000+ reviews, making it a popular choice for learners because of its credibility. It covers the fundamentals within an hour and 4 mins, making it short and to the point.

In this course, you will learn about the tasks of a Medical Coder, how to do Diagnostic coding and Procedural coding, and it also talks about how to gain work experience in this field. It has great reviews from learners on Udemy, and that’s why we had to mention it in this list of free courses in medical billing and coding.

However, the certification for completion can only be availed by the ones who have opted for the paid version. But if your purpose is to get a basic understanding, then this free course is the right choice for you

Duration: 1 hour and 4 mins

Certification: No (for certification, you need to opt for the paid version)

E-resources: No

2#  Medicalbillingandcoding.org

This website offers one of the best free courses in the medical billing and coding area, and they cover all topics from introduction to medical coding, as well as its practical application. The course is divided into 6 sections, and they are further divided into sub-sections. These videos range anywhere from 5 mins to 15 mins.

Here, along with the course – you will also find physical resources like e-textbooks, PowerPoint presentations, sample questions, and much more, which can really help you with exam preparations.

You should be on the lookout for the 6^th section as it is entirely dedicated to certification prep for students and learners. This entire program is free and resourceful. The fact that it covers all the information related to this field, makes this one of the best free medical billing and coding courses available online.

Duration: 4-5 hours

Certification: No (but it does cover how you can get yourself certified.)

E-resources: e-textbooks, PowerPoint presentations, sample questions, etc available on the website.

3# All-Things-Medical-Billing.com

This website is more like a resource than a course, but it is still effective and packed with information about medical billing and coding. They have an online forum for people to discuss and solve queries regarding this field. Some of the resources available include textbooks, glossary, as well a graphical presentation of important topics (the insurance claim process) to start your journey as a biller or a coder.

There is also a section that talks about what an insurance specialist does, which gives insight into other related fields. Even though it’s not a complete course, it is still a great resource for anyone looking to start their career in the medical billing and coding industry.

4# Dr Matthew Montoya’s Course:

Are you looking for an option that is 100% online and takes just about 6 hours to cover? then you don’t need to search anymore. This is the right course for you.

Dr Matthew Montoya’s website is an excellent choice that covers the essentials and the principles of medical coding and billing. It’s not a surprise that out of 7879 viewers, 5482 have already enrolled. One of the reasons is the case studies and practical examples he shares for better understanding. Because of this- students understand the real-life scenarios that occur while working as a medical coder. You can also find subtitles in French, Russian, Portuguese, English, and Spanish language.

Even though the video lectures of the course are completely free, you will need to purchase the certification after the completion of this course. However, Coursera does offer financial aid for people in need. You can go to their website and find it right beside the enrol now button.

Duration: 6 hours

Certification: (Paid), The video lectures are free.

5# CCO Review Blitz

Now that we have discussed the introductory courses, let’s talk more about the advanced course options that are available out there. And the CCO review Blitz is just the right option.

On certification coaching org, you can find everything from fundamentals, to the advanced core concepts of medical billing.

This is preferable for people who already know the concepts, but are looking for revisionary material before exam preps. You can also find an instructor-led forum platform, in case of any guidance you might need during the course. There is also a resource available on the platform that enables you to take practice tests and see how prepared you are for your examinations. These classes can be replayed and reviewed as many times as you like, making them a great alternative to various paid courses available online.

Duration: 80 hours

Certification: No

E-resources: No, but they have an online forum and you can also give practice tests here before exams.

6# Dr Chrono’s Medical Billing Course:

You would not expect to learn about medical billing and coding in just 1 hour, But Dr Chrono proves you wrong. With the video he has on his YouTube channel, he covers the complete module in less than one hour. His channel is a great option for anyone looking for some informative videos and content related to this field. Along with that, he also covers topics that are relevant to the health care industry on his YouTube channel.

While this might not be a proper course, it is still an accurate source of information for individuals who are pursuing a career in the healthcare industry or in medical billing and coding field.

Duration: 1 hour

Certification: No

E-resources: No

Duration to complete free medical billing and coding course online:-

Medical billing and coding courses can take anywhere from 8 weeks to 10 weeks. But it also depends on the course provider and their teaching method. You might find courses that take up to 1 year or even a few that can be done within 4 weeks.

The courses mentioned in this article are from free resources. So, the average duration required ranges anywhere from 6 hours to 10 hours. Of course, the exception here is Dr Chrono’s online lecture and the PPMC course on Udemy. However, it is also important to note that, it can take longer for some individuals depending on their studies and the time they spend on each course.

Frequently asked questions about medical billing and coding!

These are some of the frequently asked questions from students and freshers about medical billing and coding-

Can I teach myself medical billing and coding?

Yes, you can. With the help of forums, discussion platforms, online textbooks, course lectures as well as YouTube, one can master themselves and become a medical coder and biller. However, it will require a lot of patience and discipline, as medical billing and coding is a technical and analytical skill. It also requires experience and practical knowledge. So, committing yourself here is important to become a medical coder or a biller.

Where can I find free notes for medical billing and coding?

On Freemedicalbillingtraining.com, you can find practical examples as well as free notes on medical billing and coding. The video lectures on this website are paid, however, the notes, as well as the case studies they provide, are free for everyone to access. They also have flow charts on their website that people can refer for easy understanding.

Do you need any past qualifications to be a medical coder or a biller?

Not mandatory, but it is preferable to have analytical skills to record and analyse patients’ data. It is also preferable for the learner to have a bachelor’s degree or a background in life science for easy understanding of topics.

Are medical billing and coding one and the same thing?

No.

Medical billers mainly monitor the billable information about the services a patient has received. On the other hand, medical coders enter this extracted information using billing software.

However, they both work towards the common goal of helping the healthcare industry, resolving insurance claims and, trying to be the waypoint between authorities and patients.

How much does a Medical Biller and Coder earn in U.S.A?

According to Bureau of Labour Statistics, a medical biller or a coder can expect about $23 on an hourly basis and about $40,000 to $65,000 on a monthly basis.