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OPTOMETRIC BILLING & CODING CERTIFICATION COURSE

About The Billing & Coding Certification Program

The Optometric Billing & Coding Certification Program (OBCCP) is accredited by the Accreditation by the Higher Education Committee (AHEC). This is an exclusive program presented by PECAA, designed for eyecare professionals operating within the billing & coding capacity of the practice.

This comprehensive program will include in depth training and review of the following topics:

  • Optometry Basics
  • Medical Terminology
  • The lifecycle of a Claim
  • Documentation
  • Vision vs. Medical Insurance
  • HCPCS Coding
  • ICD-10-CM Coding
  • Denials and Appeals

The 2025 Winter Session will be held January 21 - May 8. 

Course Publications

Course publications contain the necessary material to complete the program and correspond with course material. Books are included with registration.

Optometric Billing And Coding Certification Course Textbook/Workbook  2024 Optometric Billing And Coding

Schedule

Each week there will be two live 1-hour sessions, one on Tuesday and one on Thursday.

The 2025 Winter Session will be held January 21 - May 8.

  • Tuesday sessions will consist of lesson material and instruction
  • Thursday sessions will be a live Q&A session where program attendees can ask the instructor specific questions and they can work through the lesson exercises that are provided
  • Tuesday Sessions will begin at 3:30 pm PT/6:30 pm ET
  • Thursday Sessions will begin at 9 am PT/12 pm ET

Cost to Attend

  • PECAA Max Members*: $895 per person
  • HEA Advantage Members: $1,095 per person
  • Non-Members: $1,295 per person

*If you would like to learn more about upgrading your membership to PECAA Max, click here.

Quizzes

  • There will be two quizzes throughout the program.
  • Quiz One will be assigned after week 6 and Quiz 2 will be assigned after week 11.
  • Each quiz will be 40 Multiple Choice Questions and you must receive a combined 70% from both quizzes to pass.
  • You will have a maximum of two attempts per Quiz.

Final Exam Information

  • The exam will be 100 Multiple Choice Questions and you must receive 80% to pass this final exam.
  • You can take the test as many times as needed within the open testing period.
  • The testing link will be emailed to each participant at the conclusion of the last live class session.

Earning Your Certificate

Each participant must receive at least a 70% combined grade from both quizzes AND a grade of at least 80% on the final exam to qualify to earn their certificate.

Curriculum

Lesson 1: Optometry Basics

This consists of 5 pre-recorded sessions that will be posted to the OBCCP Participant Page. All program registrants will receive an email two weeks before the program begins that will provide the assignment to watch the pre-recorded sessions prior to the start of the program.

Week 1:

  • OBCCP begins — course overview and review of 5 pre-recorded sessions.

Lesson 2: Optometry Billing

Week 2:

  • Life Cycle of a claim and Intro to CMS-1500 Form

Week 3:

  • Vision Plans / Different types of vision plans
  • Health Insurance / Different types of health insurance plans

Week 4:

  • Check in process
  • Insurance Verification

Week 5:

  • Check out process
  • Introduction to payment processing

Week 6:

  • Review week for Lessons 1 and 2
    • Quiz #1 will be assigned at the end of Thursday’s session.

Lesson 3: Optometry Coding

Week 7:

  • Anatomy of the eye
  • Function of the eye

Week 8:

  • Electronic Health Records
  • Documentation introduction

Week 9:

  • CPT Coding

Week 10:

  • Modifiers

Week 11:

  • Review week for Lessons 3.1 though 3.7
    • Quiz #2 will be assigned at the end of Thursday’s session

Week 12:

  • HCPCS Coding and HCPCS V-Codes

Week 13:

  • Optometry diagnosis codes and ICD-10 CM Coding

Week 14:

  • Denials and appeals

Week 15:

  • Review Week for Final Exam
    • Final exam will be sent out at the end of the final Thursday class session.

What Members Are Saying About The OBCCP

“I thought the course was very informative for a person who is brand new to billing and coding. (that’s me!) Teri is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things billing and coding related! I really learned a lot! My role to date has been mostly scheduling, insurance verification along with a little testing and beginning tech roles. I have been asked to eventually take on the billing and coding role. So, this course definitely provided a good background.”
— Stephanie Sproule, Linden Family Eye Care

“The outline of this program is perfect for a beginner and a perfect refresher for a seasoned biller/coder. The manual, webinars and live sessions deliver the information to all and really sets the student up for success!”
— Jerilyn Hoffman, Wolfeboro Eye Associates

 

“OBCCP was GREAT! The program is put together very well, easy to follow and the instructor is excellent — she really helps you excel during this 15-week course!”
— Sherrie Borg, Redding EyeCare Center

Billing & Coding Certification Course Instructors

Teri Thurston Headshot image

Teri Thurston, PECAA Billing & Coding Advisor

Teri Thurston is a revenue cycle professional with more than 26 years’ experience in the eye care industry. She has managed complex billing teams for ophthalmology and optometry practices. Teri has worked with various physicians to increase profitability, implement RCM efficiencies, and ensure billing compliance. She is passionate about supporting eye care professionals through billing & coding education.

Dianne Boulay Headshot image

Dianne Boulay, PECAA Billing & Coding Advisor

Dianne has been in the optical industry for over 18 years. She started her career with LensCrafters as a general store manager and later as a regional director of training. She worked in private practice management for more than eight years, including at a PECAA member practice. Most recently, she worked at VisionWeb as an RCM account representative. She obtained her Certified Paraoptometric Coder certification from the AOA in 2021. Dianne works from her home office in Florida.

Billing & Coding Certification Course Creator

Kayla Groves Headshot image

Kayla Groves, PECAA Optical Management Advisor

Kayla is an accomplished professional with 17 years of experience in the optical field. Throughout her career, she has successfully managed and operated multiple optometry practices, including her own. With her extensive expertise, she has worked closely with hundreds of optometry practices, providing valuable guidance and support. In addition to her practical experience, Kayla holds a Ph.D. in counseling, further enhancing her ability to understand and address the needs of patients and professionals in the field. Combining her optical knowledge with her counseling expertise, she has developed educational programs that greatly benefit the industry. Notably, Kayla is the creator of the billing & coding certification course (OBCCP), a comprehensive program that equips individuals with the necessary skills to handle the financial aspects of optometry practices efficiently. She has also developed the Optical Management Certification Course (OPTMC), empowering professionals to oversee and optimize the operations of their practices effectively. Kayla's dedication to the optical field, extensive experience, and commitment to education make her a valuable resource to our members.