Free introductory course
Learn medical billing and coding, from the first claim to the final payment
Ten practical lessons drawn from the training used at a working medical billing service. Video walkthroughs in real practice management software, a 170-term glossary, and no signup.
Written from practice
Built from the internal training used at a working medical billing service, not adapted from a textbook.
10 lessons, 68 minutes of video
Every lesson pairs a written walkthrough with a recorded screencast from real practice management software.
170+ terms defined
A working glossary of the billing and coding vocabulary used on claims, EOBs and remittance advice.
Free, no signup
The full introductory course is readable without an account, an email address or a paywall.
The course
Ten lessons, in the order a new biller learns them
Start at the beginning or jump to what you need. Each lesson pairs a written walkthrough with a screencast recorded in real practice management software.
- Lesson 1
What Is Medical Billing?
The reimbursement cycle from patient visit through to the provider being paid, and what a billing specialist actually does day to day.
Read lesson - Lesson 2
Billing & Coding Terminology
The vocabulary of the field: 170+ terms, abbreviations and acronyms you will meet on claims, EOBs and remittance advice.
Read lesson - Lesson 3
Health Insurance Plans
Indemnity, managed care and consumer-driven plans, plus how Medicare, Medicaid and commercial payers differ in practice.
Read lesson - Lesson 4
Provider & Patient Setup
Credentialing, clearinghouse enrollment, fee schedules and superbills - everything that has to exist before a claim can go out.
Read lesson - Lesson 5
Introduction to Medical Coding
ICD-10 diagnosis codes, CPT and HCPCS treatment codes, modifiers, and how medical necessity ties them together.
Read lesson - Lesson 6
Creating & Submitting Claims
Building a clean claim, the CMS-1500 form block by block, and transmitting through a clearinghouse to the payer.
Read lesson - Lesson 7
Fraud, Abuse & Privacy
HIPAA and HITECH obligations for a billing office, the required safeguards, and where abuse ends and fraud begins.
Read lesson - Lesson 8
When Claims Don't Get Paid
Rejections versus denials, reading payer error codes, filing appeals, and working an aging report to chase unpaid claims.
Read lesson - Lesson 9
Applying Payments
Reading an ERA and an EOB, posting insurance and patient payments, handling adjustments, and filing secondary claims.
Read lesson - Lesson 10
Billing & Coding Career Options
Where the jobs are, what certification involves, the reality of working from home, and what starting a billing service takes.
Read lesson
How the reimbursement cycle works
Every claim follows the same path, from the moment a patient checks in to the moment the provider is paid in full. Each step below is marked with who owns it.
- Front office
- Provider
- Billing office
- Payer
- Front office
Patient arrives
The patient checks in for their appointment.
- Front office
Collect information and co-pay
Front office captures demographics and insurance details and takes the co-payment. Errors introduced here are the most common cause of a claim being rejected later.
- Provider
Provider documents the encounter
The provider examines the patient and records the conditions observed and the treatment given.
- Provider
Assign diagnosis and treatment codes
The documentation is translated into ICD-10 diagnosis codes and CPT treatment codes, with modifiers where the circumstances require them.
- Billing office
Enter the claim into practice management software
Demographics, insurance and the coded encounter are entered into the software that will produce the claim.
- Billing office
Electronic or paper claim?
- ElectronicSubmit the claim to a clearinghouse, which scrubs it and forwards it to the payer.
- PaperPrint the CMS-1500 form and mail it directly to the payer.
- Payer
Claim reaches the insurance company
The payer begins adjudication - deciding what it will pay, reduce or refuse.
- Payer
Does the claim pass adjudication?
- YesThe payer issues payment to the provider.
- NoThe claim is rejected or denied and must be corrected.
Correct and resubmit the claim — back to step 5
- Billing office
Post payment and adjustments
Payment is applied from the electronic remittance advice (ERA) or explanation of benefits (EOB), along with any contractual adjustments.
- Billing office
Bill the patient for the remainder
Any coinsurance, unmet deductible or outstanding co-pay is billed to the patient.
- Billing office
Provider is paid in full
The claim closes once the payer and patient portions have both been received.
What medical billing and coding involves
Medical billing and coding is a process that involves the conversion of healthcare procedures and services into universal medical codes that can be used for billing and reimbursement purposes. Medical billing and coding professionals are responsible for accurately assigning these codes to healthcare services and procedures, ensuring that healthcare providers are reimbursed correctly and in a timely manner.
Medical coding involves the use of standardized codes to accurately represent medical diagnoses and procedures. There are several coding systems, including ICD-10-CM (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification) for diagnosis codes, and CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) and HCPCS (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System) for procedure codes. These codes are used to communicate important information about the patient’s medical condition and the services rendered to insurance companies, government agencies, and other payers.
Medical billing involves the process of submitting claims to insurance companies or other payers to request reimbursement for healthcare services provided to patients. Medical billing professionals are responsible for verifying insurance coverage, ensuring that the correct codes are used for billing, submitting claims, and following up with payers to resolve any issues or disputes that arise.
Medical billing and coding professionals work in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, physician offices, and insurance companies. They play a critical role in ensuring that healthcare providers receive proper reimbursement for their services, and that patients are not responsible for paying more than they should for their medical care.
Common questions
Before you start
Is this medical billing course really free?
Yes. All ten lessons, the video walkthroughs and the glossary are readable without an account, an email address or payment. A paid course covering the same ground in more depth is offered separately, but nothing on this site is gated.
Does this course make me a certified medical biller?
No. This is practical introductory training, not a certification program. Certification is awarded by bodies such as the AAPC and AHIMA, each with its own exam and eligibility requirements. If certification is your goal, this course is useful preparation but is not a substitute for it.
How long does it take to work through?
The ten lessons contain about 68 minutes of video in total, plus the written material. Most people work through it over a few sittings.
What is the difference between medical billing and medical coding?
Coding translates the provider's documentation into standard diagnosis and procedure codes. Billing takes those codes, assembles the claim, submits it to the payer and pursues payment. In small practices one person often does both.
Do I need practice management software to follow along?
No. The video lessons demonstrate the work inside real practice management software, so you can see each step without installing anything.
Go further
The full Fundamentals course
The free lessons above are an abbreviated version of the course we built to train new employees and contractors.
Fundamentals of Medical Billing
- Over 50 video lessons
- 200 pages of presentation material as PDF
- 35+ essential medical billing office forms
- Medical billing terms dictionary
- Bonus modules on hospital and dental billing