Medical Coder/Billing Specialist Certificate

Program Description

This certificate prepares students for employment in hospitals, physicians’ offices, and other health care settings as medical coders, abstractors, and medical billers of clinical patient information using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) as modified for use in the United States and the HCPCS/CPT coding systems. In addition, students will learn about other related classification systems, clinical documentation requirements, prospective payment systems, e.g., diagnosis related groups (DRGs), reimbursement strategies, and the processing of medical claims. Graduates are eligible to apply to take one of three national certifying examinations administered by the American Health Information Management Association to become a certified coding associate, certified coding specialist, or certified coding specialist-physician and the national certifying examinations administered by the American Academy of Professional Coders. The program incorporates classroom instruction and a practicum covering a wide variety of medical specialties in both ambulatory and inpatient care. Graduates are eligible to apply to take one of three national certifying examinations administered by the American Health Information Management Association to become a certified coding associate, certified coding specialist, or certified coding specialist-physician and the national certifying examinations administered by the American Academy of Professional Coders.

Graduates of the Medical Coder/Billing Specialist Certificate will be able to:

• Apply policies and procedures surrounding issues of access and disclosure of protected health information
• Apply legal concepts and principles to the practice of HIM
• Protect electronic health information through the application of confidentiality, privacy, security measures, policies and procedures for internal and external use
• Analyze the documentation in the health record to ensure it supports the diagnosis and reflects the patient’s progress, clinical findings, and discharge status
• Apply diagnosis/procedure codes according to current guidelines
• Analyze current regulations and established guidelines in clinical classification systems

Sequence of Study-Medical Coder/Billing Specialist Certificate

Below are the required courses for your program arranged in a suggested sequence. Please note that the sequence does not include developmental coursework. See Academic Preparation  for the developmental course sequence if applicable to you.

Program Total: 38 Credits

¹ Refer to Course Descriptions , for eligibility requirements for BIO 2050 .

² It is highly recommended that students complete HIM 1530  prior to entering the Medical Coder/Billing Specialist Program.