Medical Insurance Billing and Coding: An Essentials Worktext (Paperback)

by Marilyn Fordney CMA-AC (Author), Linda L. French CMA-C NCICS CPC (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This completely new essentials text features all the must-know information inside the comprehensive book, Insurance Handbook for the Medical Office in an accessible, focused format! It covers key aspects of submitting, tracing, appealing, and transmitting claims for today's full range of health plans. Important topics such as diagnostic coding, procedural coding, office and insurance collection strategies, and Medicare are presented and laid out in full color. Like the larger book, this text also features a chapter on documentation in a medical office, as well as Example boxes, full-color artwork, and an entire chapter on how to complete the HCFA-1500 form using color-coded payer icons. These icons help students identify each health insurance payer along with the relevant information that the payer requires in each box of the claim form.

About the Author
Marilyn Takahashi Fordney, CMA-AC, CMT, Formerly, Instructor of Medical Insurance, Medical Terminology, Medical Machine Transcription, and Medical Office Procedures, Ventura College, Ventura, CA; and Linda L French, CMA-C, NCICS, Business Consultant and Instructor of Medical Insurance Procedures and Medical Terminology, Simi Valley Adult School and Career Institute, Simi Valley, CA; Ventura College, Ventura, CA; Oxnard College, Oxnard, CA

Product Details

• Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Saunders; 7th edition (August 23, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0721695167
• ISBN-13: 978-0721695167
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #608,149 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very thorough textbook , March 27, 2006

By	Jennifer M. Evans (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have been teaching Insurance Billing and Coding for over 5 years and have used this text to teach my Insurance Billing and Coding classes over the past two years. I believe that this text is very thorough. While there are a few small guidelines that are not accurate, it definitely exceeds other texts in accuracy.

Another reviewer stated that this text discusses Medicare Part C and he/she said that it didn't exist. It does exist and is discussed at length, both in the text and on the CMS website.

The only negative thing that I would say about it is that it doesn't cover coding as well as I would have liked. I generally have to use another text to supplement this text in order to enable my students to practice coding skills with more precision.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Worst medical insurance textbook ever, June 2, 2005

By	S. Spencer - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First let me say, I spent 8 months in vocational school, scored a 90% on my certification exam, and now teach medical insurance billing for a living. My school requires that I use Fordney's textbook, so I use it. But I heavily supplement it with McGraw-Hill's "Medical Insurance" textbook, which is one of the best textbooks I have ever read.

Fordney's textbook contains some major errors, has no Introductory chapter, has a lousy glossary, and makes an already difficult subject even more confusing. I understand this subject pretty well, but I'm confused after reading her textbook!

Here are some examples of what I mean: (1) Fordney says there are 17 different types of medical insurance. In reality, most of these can be put into one of four categories: individual, group, managed care, and government programs. Some of Fordney's "categories" aren't even insurance programs! (2) Fordney says an "emancipated minor" can be a college student. Now, an emancipated minor is someone who is under 18 years old, and can make decisions about their own medical care _and_pay_their_own_way_. Most college students are over 18, and rely on their parents for funding, at least the first few years. A 17-year-old college student who pays her or his own way is the rare exception, not the rule. (3) Fordney says people have to sign-up for Medicare benefits, and that the time of year for signing-up is important. In reality, most people are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A within 3 months of their 65th birthday. People who are totally disabled before their 65th birthday have to enroll, but this is usually handled by their physician or attorney for the disability case. People who have worked less than 10 years, or have not had Social Security benefits drawn from their paychecks, may have to enroll. And some nonresident aliens may have to enroll. But again, these are the rare exceptions, not the rule. Basically, Fordney gets the sign-up rules for Medicare Part B confused with Medicare Part A, and makes no distinction between Parts A and B, when in practicality they are Totally Different. Most notably, enrollment in Medicare Part A is automatic, paid for by the Social Security Act, and only covers hospital and some home care (e.g. Hospice). Medicare Part B is by choice only, has to be paid for individually every month, and covers office visits, some preventive care, and basically what most individual health insurance policies cover. (4) Fordney thinks there is a Medicare Part C. The trouble is, neither of the two major Medicare websites (http://www.cms.hhs.gov, and http://www.medicare.gov) know about it! Okay, it doesn't actually exist: Fordney made it up. Technically there is a Medicare Part D, the new prescription drug benefit introduced in late 2004, and that goes into effect in Jan. 2006. But both Medicare websites include this under Medicare Part B.

I'm embarrassed that Marilyn Fordney and I have the same credential...

5.0 out of 5 stars Completely satisfied in Gaffney, SC, April 28, 2009

By	Viola Ann Thomas Palmer "billing expert" (Gaffney, SC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This was my first time ordering from Amazon and I was completely satisfied with the text book, delivery time and especially the price. I will always check with Amazon before paying full price for any more material at the college book store. Thank you so much for the professionalism.