Medical Information Coder/Biller Overview (6528)
Type of Award
CCC - College Credit Certificate
Program Website
www.palmbeachstate.edu/career-pathways/pathway-health/default.aspx
Program Description
This AHIMA PCAP approved program prepares students for employment as medical coders and health insurance specialists. The medical coder is responsible for assigning correct diagnostic and procedural codes to medical documentation from patients’ medical records to ensure appropriate medical insurance reimbursement and compliance.
The Medical Information Coder/Biller program content is comprehensive, covering both inpatient and outpatient coding and documentation principles. This requires knowledge and abilities in anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, computer software, reimbursement, health insurance, ethics, legal and regulatory requirements, and health information management.
Program Accreditation
The Medical Information Coder/Biller program is approved through the Professional Certificate Approval Process (PCAP) by the American Health Information Management Association Foundation. This designation acknowledges the coding program as having been evaluated by a peer review process against a national minimum set of standards for entry-level coding professions. This process allows academic institutions, health care organizations, and private companies to be acknowledged as offering an AHIMA Foundation PCAP Approved Coding Certificate program.
General Admission Requirements to the College
- Complete an Application for Admission, located at www.palmbeachstate.edu/admissions/Admissions-Applications
- Submit an official high school or GED transcript and official college/university transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended. Refer to the Admission Procedures section of the college catalog for more information regarding transcripts.
Completion Requirements
Students must complete all courses listed in the catalog for this program with a grade of C or higher.
Program Length
Total program credits: 37. Total program length: 5 semesters part-time. Most of the Medical Information Coder/Biller courses are formatted as hybrid online courses.
Location
The program is offered at the Loxahatchee Groves campus.
For More Information
Contact Colette Chiacchiero, Department Chair Health Information Programs, chiacchc@palmbeachstate.edu, (561) 790-9049
Employment Opportunities
Upon completion of this program, the student may seek employment as a medical coder or health insurance specialist in a hospital, physician’s office, intermediate care facility, insurance company, billing company or clinic. A medical information coder/biller uses the clinical documentation, diagnosis and procedures and translates them into numeric codes. These numeric codes are input into the computer system and used for reimbursement, quality assurance and research.
Career Path Notes
Completion of the program will provide students with 34 credits, which may be applied to the Health Information Technology Associate in Science degree.
Upon completion of the program students may sit for the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) CCA certification examination and/or the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) CPC-A certification examination.
Career Center
www.palmbeachstate.edu/Career
For more information about employment opportunities including job outlook and salary information visit: Occupational Outlook Handbook: www.bls.gov/ooh
O-Net Online: www.onetonline.org
Required courses:
Required Courses (Credits: 37)
| BSC2085 | Anatomy and Physiology 1 (AA) | 3 Credits |
| BSC2085L | Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab (AA) | 1 Credit |
| BSC2086 | Anatomy and Physiology 2 (AA) | 3 Credits |
| BSC2086L | Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab (AA) | 1 Credit |
| CGS1100 | Microcomputer Applications (AA) | 3 Credits |
| Or | |
| HIM1610C | Office Applications for Health Professions (AS) | 3 Credits |
| HSC2531 | Medical Terminology (AA) | 3 Credits |
| HIM1000C | Introduction to Health Information Management (AS) | 3 Credits |
| HIM1433C | Pathophysiology for Health Information (AS) | 2 Credits |
| HIM1442C | Pharmacology for Health Information (AS) | 2 Credits |
| HIM1282C | Fundamentals of Medical Coding (AS) | 3 Credits |
| HIM2222C | Applied Inpatient Coding (AS) | 3 Credits |
| HIM2272C | Medical Reimbursement and Revenue (AS) | 3 Credits |
| HIM2253C | Applied Outpatient Coding (AS) | 3 Credits |
| HIM2810L | Advanced Coding Lab (AS) | 1 Credit |
| HIM1012C | Health Information Law, Ethics, and Compliance (AS) | 3 Credits |
Total Credit Hours: 37
Course Sequence
Term One - Fall (Year One) (Credits: 10)
| HSC2531 | Medical Terminology (AA) | 3 Credits |
| BSC2085 | Anatomy and Physiology 1 (AA) | 3 Credits |
| BSC2085L | Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab (AA) | 1 Credit |
| CGS1100 | Microcomputer Applications (AA) | 3 Credits |
| Or | |
| HIM1610C | Office Applications for Health Professions (AS) | 3 Credits |
Term Two - Spring (Year One) (Credits: 7)
| BSC2086 | Anatomy and Physiology 2 (AA) | 3 Credits |
| BSC2086L | Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab (AA) | 1 Credit |
| HIM1000C | Introduction to Health Information Management (AS) | 3 Credits |
Term Three - Summer (Year One) (Credits: 10)
| HIM1433C | Pathophysiology for Health Information (AS) | 2 Credits |
| HIM1442C | Pharmacology for Health Information (AS) | 2 Credits |
| HIM1282C | Fundamentals of Medical Coding (AS) | 3 Credits |
| HIM1012C | Health Information Law, Ethics, and Compliance (AS) | 3 Credits |
Term One - Fall (Year Two) (Credits: 9)
| HIM2222C | Applied Inpatient Coding (AS) | 3 Credits |
| HIM2272C | Medical Reimbursement and Revenue (AS) | 3 Credits |
| HIM2253C | Applied Outpatient Coding (AS) | 3 Credits |
Term Two - Spring (Year Two) (Credits: 1)
| HIM2810L | Advanced Coding Lab (AS) | 1 Credit |
Total Credit Hours: 37