Medical Coder/Billing Specialist Certificate

This Medical Coder/Billing Specialist 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 prepared to take national certifying examinations administered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the national certifying examinations administered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Please refer to organizations' website for further details.

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

• Examine compliance of health record content within the health organizations.
• Apply laws, regulations, and policies to healthcare delivery organizations.
• Apply accurate diagnostic and procedural codes for reimbursement processes.
• Evaluate compliance with regulatory requirements and reimbursement.
• Use medical terminology as related to body systems.
• Demonstrate behaviors consistent with the professional Code of Ethics of the AHIMA for professional medical coders.