Medical Billing and Coding and RN

[tobi1007]

Hi, I just have few question and want to hear some opinions about it.

I'm applying for nursing program for Fall 2010. Meanwhile, I'm taking prerequisites courses at school.

While I was picking some classes for Spring semester, I found Medical Billing and Coding class, and seem interesting to me. (I work as Pharm Tech, but haven't done much insurance stuff, so wonder it helps?)

Anyway, my main question is will certificate in MBC be useful when I become RN?

THank you

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

not likely to be helpful, unless you go work for an insurance company or hospital that wants a coder to know the meaning of words, which procedures fit which diagnosis, etc. But as a nurse you probably will never see the coding except in MD office. Even there, my experience was that the business office rarely asked for our input.

[tobi1007]

Thank you so much. I guess I will be looking into other class. ^^

[ellakate]

Sometimes it helps to have coding/billing knowledge. It is a good way to earn money.

This is a course that I have been trying to find.

[BSN75]

I think it's absolutely great knowledge to have if you're working in a doctors office. When I call Insurance companies to do prior authorization for a CT or MRI, you have to have the proper ICD-9 and CPT codes or they won't even start the auth. I have worked at many offices, and coding has always played a part in my job as an RN or LPN.