Medical Billing & Coding 

Introduction
Coding diagnoses and procedures and processing health insurance claims are crucial to the successful operation of any health care facility, and qualified persons are continuously sought to perform these tasks with great accuracy. Coding is the process of assigning numeric and alphanumeric descriptors from established systems to diagnoses, procedures and services then reporting them on insurance claims. Processing health insurance claims requires data from patient encounters to be entered onto insurance claims and submitted to third-party payers for the purpose of obtaining reimbursement. (Claims can be completed both electronically and manually; manual processing is still popular with thousands of single-physician offices, and it is anticipated that manual processing will continue through 2015 and beyond.) The impact is a demand for quality insurance and coding education programs that properly train professionals to meet the needs of health care facilities and the insurance industry.

Job outlook and salaries
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook classifies coders as "medical records and health information technicians" whose career is considered "one of the fastest growing occupations . . . and most . . . [coders] will be employed in hospitals, but job growth will be faster in offices and clinics of physicians, nursing homes, and home health agencies." The BLS expects this field to " . . . grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2012, due to rapid growth in the number of medical tests, treatments, and procedures which will be increasingly scrutinized by third-party payers, regulators, courts, and consumers."
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) conducted a salary survey among its members in 2005 that revealed a $39,000 average annual salary for certified coders with up to three years of experience, depending on region in the country (compared with $32,000 to $38,000 for noncertified coders). The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) 2005 membership profile reveals that 62% of coding professionals earn between $30,000 and $50,000 annually. The BLS reports median annual earnings of medical records and health information technicians as $25,590 in 2004.

Program Description
Insurance processing and coding functions are performed by specialists employed in health care settings. Health insurance (or health information) specialists assign and report ICD, CPT, and HCPCS codes on insurance claims for diagnoses and procedures/services provided to patients in a variety of health care environments. The insurance and coding program offers individuals the opportunity to pursue a business-related career that is an essential part of the health care industry.

Students enrolled in the insurance and coding program must complete and master all competencies and earn grades of 75% or higher in all courses. The program can be completed on a part-time basis during an estimated twelve months of study. Classes are currently only offered Monday through Thursday from 5:00pm to 9:00 pm. This program is designed for open entry/open exit and is competency based.

Degree Received - Certificate
Certification - Upon successful completion of the program graduates are eligible to take the national certification examinations offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), and American Medical Billing Association (AMBA). AHIMA offers Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) exams, and the AAPC offers Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exams. Unless they are taking the apprentice level exams, it is strongly recommended that students work for a minimum of one year full-time as a coder before taking the CCS and CPC exams. AMBA offers the Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS) exam.

Occupational Opportunities
Acute and ambulatory care, behavioral health, insurance companies, physician offices, state and federal agencies, legal firms, and consulting firms.
Transfer Opportunities
Graduates are eligible to continue their education by completing an associate or bachelor degree in a health information management related field.

Entrance Requirements/Recommendations
High school or GED equivalent is required. Typing/keyboarding at a speed of 25 wpm is recommended.
● TABE assessment reflecting a 9th grade level in reading and a 6th grade level in math.
  *Call to schedule*
● Additional requirements including drug and health screenings and a fingerprint/background
  check must be successfully completed prior to enrollment. This information will be included in
  an enrollment packet given to the student upon successful completion of the TABE entrance
  exam.
● Tuition and related expenses *

Requirements & Information
● For Financial Aid information click on Financial Resources in the Menu on the left.
● HCC Requirements:
   Students are exempt from HCCs (except CPR) if they possess a current credential, license
   or a degree in a health care discipline or if they have two years of work experience in a  
   related health sciences field.

For more information contact
Cynthia Bass, Program Advisor - 623.535.2808
Karee Peigné, Program Manager - 623.535.2802
Martha Sims-Green, Instructor - 623.535.2788