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. 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 health information management (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.

Required Courses (in expected order)

• EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• HIM-1530 Medical Terminology Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• INT-1010 Introduction to Information Technology (CyberWATCH common course equivalent: CW120) Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• BIO-2050 Human Anatomy & Physiology I Credits: 4 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• BIO-2060 Anatomy and Physiology II Credits: 4 (Program Requirement)
• HIM-1500 Introduction to Health Information & Healthcare Systems Credits: 4 (Program Requirement)
• HIM-1581 Principles & Application of ICD Coding Credits: 4 (Program Requirement)
• HIM-1550 Disease Processes Credits: 4 (Program Requirement; Critical Course)
• HIM-1600 Principles & Applications of CPT Credits: 2 (Program Requirement)
• HIM-2520 Principles and Applications of ICD Coding II Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• HIM-2560 Health Information Practicum II Credits: 1 (Program Requirement)
• HIM-2600 Medical Reimbursement and Billing Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

Program Total: 38 Credits

Check BIO-2050  for eligibility requirements.

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