HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNICIAN

MEDICAL CODER/BILLER 

The demand for Medical Coder/Billers has never been greater—and this need is expected to continue for some years to come. 

Medical Coder/Biller's review patients records and then assign and sequence diagnostic and procedural codes for symptoms, diseases, operations, and treatments according to a recognized numeric classification system. After the information is coded, the Medical Coder/Biller uses a computer program to assign the patient to one of several hundred "diagnostic related-groups" or DRG's. It is essential that the Medical Coder/Biller work be complete and accurate because the information is used for clinical decisions as well as documentation for insurance and Medicare reimbursement.  

A Medical Coder/Biller should like to work with numbers, be detail-oriented, and have good eye-hand coordination to enter codes correctly and efficiently into the computer. A coding error could result in an incorrect clinical decision or a financial loss to the hospital.

Medical Coder/Biller usually works a 40-hour week. Some overtime may be required. In hospitals—where health information departments often are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—They may work day, evening, and night shifts. A Medical Coder/Biller works in pleasant and comfortable offices. This is one of the few health occupations in which there is little or no direct contact with patients. Because accuracy is essential in their jobs, they must pay close attention to detail.

The number of Medical Coder/Biller and Health Information Technicians employed in Florida in 2006 was 9,539. It is projected that in 2014 there will be 11,813, an annual average growth rate of 3.0 percent.

American Health Information Management Association states that 41% of its members who are certified coders/billers earned between $30,000 and $39,999, with an additional 25% making between $20,000 and $29,999. 19% earned over $40,000. 

PURPOSE:

PROGRAM CONTENT: This program is a planned sequence of instruction consisting of Theory, laboratory and clinical experiences. The following are the course offerings:

·          Health Careers Core

·          Anatomy and Physiology,

·          Medical Terminology,

·          Fundamentals of Disease Processes

·          Medical Coding Systems & References

·          Basics of Health Information Services

·          Ethical and Legal Responsibilities

·          Basic Data Processing Skills

·          Safety/Security Procedures

·          Medical Billing

·          Clinical Rotation 

ENTRANCE/CLINICAL NEEDS

·          Basic Skills Test (TABE)

·          Transcripts of High School Education/GED the CCA exam candidates must have earned a United States high school diploma or the equivalent.

·          Attend Orientation

·          Background Check successfully completed 

LENGTH OF PROGRAM:

1000 hours (approximately 12 months, 1 Year). 

TIME:

Days Class              8:00 am. – 2:30 PM M-R

Evening Class         5:00 pm -10:30 PM M-R

UNIFORMS:

Students are required to wear the official school Uniform during the entire program (Class and Clinical). 

TRANSPORTATION:

Students must provide their own transportation to and from the campus as well as all clinical settings 

BASIC SKILLS REQUIREMENTS:

TABE (Test of Adult Basic Education)

Reading                   11.0 A Level

Math                        9.0 D  Level

Language                                11.0 A Level

*Must be achieved for program completion.

LABORATORY ACTIVITIES:

Laboratory activities will be correlated with classroom activities and reinforced in the clinical area.

CLINICAL ACTIVITIES: Students must provide their own transportation to the clinical sites. Clinical learning experiences in a medical facility or related areas are an integral part of this program.

CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE: National certification as a CCA is part of the program curriculum.