Applied Technology Diploma

Medical Coder/Biller (MCB) (B398)

This is a limited access program

Mission Statement: Creating competent, ethical, confident entry-level health care practitioners committed to professional development through life-long learning in a positive, non-discriminatory and supportive learning environment.

The Career: Health information coding is the transformation of verbal descriptions of diseases, injuries and procedures into alphanumeric designations. Responsibilities include coding of diagnoses and procedures; preparation and processing of insurance claims. Medicare and other third party payors use coded data for claims processing. Coded information is used in the assessment of clinical care, to support research activity, and the identification of health care concerns critical to the public at large.

The Program: This limited access program prepares graduates for employment as a health care/medical coder or biller in a variety of settings. The program is a combination of professional courses including lecture, laboratory and clinical education components. Confidentiality and legal concerns are also covered. Professional practice experiences are provided in local health care facilities under the supervision of qualified professional personnel. Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are awarded an Applied Technology Diploma.

Application Procedure

Prerequisites: Prior to being admitted to the program, an applicant must complete:

	BSC 2085C	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	4
	HSC 1531	Medical Terminology	3
	HIM 1260	Health Insurance Billing	2

Application Procedure — Applicant must:

1. Have earned a high school diploma or equivalency degree.
2. Complete Medical Coder/Biller program application. (Contact the HIM office for application deadline)
3. Be currently enrolled or a former Florida Community College student.
4. Have completed a minimum of nine credit hours of prerequisites (see above). A grade of C or better must be achieved in all prerequisite courses. A GPA of 2.0 must be maintained
5. Have CPTs (College Placement Test Scores) by the Medical Coder/Biller program application deadline.

Applicants will be ranked on the quality points earned in the three courses listed in number four above. Students who verify work experience in health information management will earn two points per year, up to a maximum of six points. In the event of a tie, the College Placement Test scores (English, reading and elementary algebra) will be used as a tie-breaker.

A physical examination will be required upon acceptance to the program.

Cost
Estimated tuition is $1,650 (for Florida residents, as of 7/05). Estimated cost of textbooks and materials is $600.

Curriculum

Professional Courses
BSC 2085C	Human Anatomy and Physiology I	4
HSC 1531	Medical Terminology (for Health Professions)	3
HIM 1433	Pathophysiology I	2
HIM 1300	Health Care Delivery Systems	2
HIM 1260	Health Insurance Billing	2
HIM 1436	Pathophysiology II	2
HIM 1224	ICD 9-CM Coding and Lab	3
HIM 2012	Health Law	3
HIM 1253	CPT-4 Coding and Lab	3
HIM 1800	Professional Practice Experience I	2
	Total Credit Hours	26

Note
Most clinical agencies require students to undergo drug screen and criminal background checks prior to placement in the agencies for clinical experiences. Students whose drug screening and criminal background checks are deemed unsatisfactory may be denied access to clinical experiences by the clinical agencies. Failure to qualify for and meet clinical requirements at clinical sites may prevent completion of the program. Withdrawal from the program may be necessary if students cannot be placed for clinical experiences.

The cost of the background check and drug screen is borne by the student. Additionally, it is the student’s responsibility to have all paperwork completed by the program’s published deadline. Students who are unable to complete the clinical requirements after acceptance into selective access programs are not eligible for refunds of tuition.