Business Division

The Medical Coding and Billing Specialist Program is designed to provide students with the competencies necessary to obtain employment as a medical coding and/or billing specialist in the healthcare environment. Students will gain experience in reviewing medical documentation and acting as “translators” by comparing medical documentation to the standards of AMA (American Medical Association) and CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) and contractual agreements with health insurance plans and abstracting written information and distilling into standardized codes. Students will also gain experience in auditing and submitting accurate claims to be reimbursed by third-party payers. Graduates are prepared to work in physicians’ offices, hospitals, group practices, health insurance offices, specialty practices, as well as coding/billing companies. Coursework will aid students in preparing to sit for certification exams offered by American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).  

Program Competencies

• Define medical terminology used in healthcare delivery.
• Define the contents of an electronic health record and the operation of an electronic medical record system.
• Interpret inpatient/outpatient record documentation to identify diagnoses and services/procedures.
• Demonstrate knowledge of concepts common to medical insurance plans in health care delivery.
• Summarize federal legislation and regulations affecting health care.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills in writing and speaking in a business environment.
• Apply math operations to solve fundamental business problems.
• Demonstrate proficiency in keyboarding of business letters, memos, reports and tables at a high level of speed and accuracy.
• Use appropriate medical office procedures in areas of medical ethics, electronic health records management, telephone communications, incoming and outgoing mail, appointment scheduling, and simulation projects.
• Create integrated documents, worksheets, database, and presentations suitable for coursework, professional purposes, and personal use using personal productivity software.
• Identify the structures of the human body and how these structures function.
• Interpret health record documentation to identify diagnoses and/or procedures.
• Identify commonly used drug names including their chemical, generic, and trade names.
• Apply CPT coding guidelines to medical case studies by abstracting, assigning and arranging codes.
• Demonstrate knowledge of using coding manuals to answer examination questions in preparation for the certification examination.