CCC, Medical Information Coder/Biller | CIP 0351071304

Mission Statement

The mission of the Medical Information Coder/Biller (MICB) College Credit Certificate program at Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) is to provide an educational experience that includes both the professional and technical skills necessary to prepare students to be competent, ethical, and confident entry-level medical coding and billing practitioners.

Program Overview

The four-semester College Credit Certificate (CCC) in Medical Information Coder/Biller (MICB) is tailored to prepare students for employment in a variety of healthcare settings as entry-level medical information coders and billers. A medical information coder/biller is a specialist who analyzes health records and converts information into diagnosis and procedure codes. Medical information coding professionals provide reliable and valid data and information for healthcare reimbursement, research, statistics, and policymaking.

Medical Information Coding professionals work in a multitude of healthcare settings including hospitals, physicians’ offices and clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, insurance companies, government agencies, and medical coding and billing companies.

Students who complete the Medical Information Coder/biller, CCC may continue their studies and pursue the Health Information Technology, AS Degree while working in the field.

Program Goals: To prepare graduates who are proficient in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning competencies to enter the Medical Coding and Billing profession.

Program Student Learning Outcomes (PLOs) Students will:

• Manage processes to collect accurate, complete, and current health information to support reimbursement for patient services.
• Compile, validate, and analyze data to support patient care outcomes and organizational health care initiatives.
• Apply diagnostic and procedural coding knowledge to support accurate reimbursement methodologies and payment systems for the continuum of care.
• Evaluate diagnostic and procedural codes as outlined by the official guidelines in conjunction with the appropriate regulatory requirements and reimbursement systems.
• Assess legal policies and procedures to address regulatory compliance with health data and information management.
• Determine the impact of regulatory policy on healthcare for individuals, communities, and populations.
• Demonstrate professional and ethical values consistent with the current medical coding profession standards of practice.

Professional Associations:

• American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
• Florida Health Information Management Association (FHIMA)
• Southwest Florida Health Information Management Association (SWFHIMA)
• AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders)

Program Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted continually throughout the year for a Fall or Spring semester start. (Please see the Official Academic Calendar for Admission and Registration Deadlines)

Program Admission Information

Admission to the Medical Information Coder/Biller, CC program is selective and based on the following criteria.

To be considered for acceptance, students must:

• Be admitted to FSW.
• Be 18 years of age or older.
• Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher for all college credit.
• Complete the Medical Information Coder/Biller, CCC program application.
• Complete and pass a college-approved criminal background check and drug testing at the applicant’s expense.

Upon acceptance into the program, students must meet with the School of Health Professions student advisor before enrolling in classes.

After acceptance to the program and before enrollment in the internship course (HIM 2814C), students must provide the following:

• Provide a current (within 12 months) college-approved criminal background check and urine drug testing at the applicant’s expense.
• Provide documentation of a health physical and functional evaluation from a healthcare provider including all required immunizations.
• Provide evidence of tuberculosis (TB) screening.
• Provide proof of personal health insurance.
• Provide evidence of current Basic Life Support Provider Certification (CPR and AED).

Embedded Certificate

The four-semester Medical Information Coder/Biller Certificate incorporates selected courses from the Health Information Technology, AS degree program. Upon completing the certificate program, students will receive a College Credit Certificate (CCC).

Students who complete the Medical Information Coder/Biller Certificate may continue their studies and pursue the Health Information Technology, AS Degree while working in the field.

Certifications/Stackable Professional Credentials

Students of the Medical Information Coder/Biller, CCC program are eligible to take the following certification exams:

Certified Coding Associate (CCA) is offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Learn more about the CCA certification.