Student ID:__________________________ Student Name:_______________________ Adviser Name:_______________________ Catalog: 2019-20 Academic Catalog Program: Medical Coding and Billing Specialist - MEDC.COC Minimum Credits Required:__________________

Medical Coding and Billing Specialist - MEDC.COC

The healthcare profession is undergoing tremendous change. Trained professionals in medical coding, billing, and reimbursement are in high demand. The billing specialist provides information for reimbursement purposes, and ensures that the correct documentation is submitted with health claims.

The medical coding and billing specialist may work for hospitals, ambulatory centers, visiting nursing associations, insurance companies, ambulance companies, dental and physician offices, and many other health organizations. After several years of work experience, the specialist may also work from home as an independent medical biller.

A professional with coding, billing and reimbursement skills will have many career options. The demand for skilled professionals is great, and the room for advancement is tremendous.

The Medical Coding and Billing curriculum is planned to improve the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of health data; to increase the supply of quality coding, billing, and reimbursement specialists; and to provide assurance of qualifications to institutions when they are subject to review. Coding is the transformation of verbal descriptions of diseases, injuries, and procedures into numerical designations.

Students must achieve a minimum “C” (73%) or better in every HIT, MED, BIO course. The student who is unable to meet the minimum requirement may be withdrawn from the program. An applicant for the program must be a high school graduate or the equivalent (GED) or have a United States high school equivalency as evaluated by a credential evaluation service for foreign-educated candidates.

The Medical Coding and Billing student must be able to meet the following technical standards: possess motor skills, manual dexterity, vision/hearing normal or device-corrected, eye/hand coordination, and skill in the art of oral and written communications.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Completion of high-school English - 4 years with a grade of C or higher and the qualifications to enroll in ENG-101 or completion of a college-level English course with a grade of C+ or higher.
  • HS diploma or GED.
  • Medical Terminology with a grade of C or better or enrollment in MED-100.

Upon the successful completion of the requirements of this program, a Certificate of Completion in Medical Coding and Billing Specialist from STCC will be awarded.

Applying for Re-Admission to this Program

Students who leave this health program before completing it may apply for re-admission.  Students reapplying to the program must resubmit an application, all supporting documents and essay with updated official transcripts. Students will be eligible to receive up to a maximum of one re-admission. Click here for information about the re-admission policy and process. 

(MEDC.COC) Curriculum

Semester 1

Course NamecreditsTerm TakenGradeGen Ed
HIT-120 - Introduction to Diagnostic Coding 1 4 credits
HIT-122 - Introduction to Procedural Coding 3 credits
HIT-110 - Health Office Basics 3 credits
BIO-104 - Human Biology 1 3 credits
BIO-104L - Lab: Human Biology 1 1 credits

Total: 14 credits

Semester 2

Course NamecreditsTerm TakenGradeGen Ed
HIT-155 - Health Claims and Insurance 2 credits
HIT-130 - Electronic Health Record 2 credits
CMP-106 - Computer Basics: Concepts & Applications 3 credits
BIO-105 - Human Biology 2 3 credits
BIO-105L - Lab: Human Biology 2 1 credits
HIT-124 - Intro to PCS 2 credits

Total: 13 credits

Total (MEDC.COC) Curriculum Program Credits: 27

Department Personnel

 

Name Title Office Phone Email
Tracey McKethan, MBA, RHIA, CCA Professor/Department Chair/HIIM Program Director - Health Information Technology 02/231 413-755-4680 tmckethan@stcc.edu
Laura Piquette, MHA, RHIA, CDHP, CDIP Assistant Professor 02/224 413-755-5461 lpiquette@stcc.edu
Marie Auclair, MSW, CCA, CPC Assistant Professor 02/224 413-755-4126 mauclair@stcc.edu
Louise Corcoran, MBA, RHIA, CCS, CPHI Adjunct Faculty     lgcorcoran@stcc.edu
Carolyn Landquist, CCS, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, CEDC, CEMC Adjunct Faculty     cklandquist@stcc.edu
Julie Fleron Adjunct Faculty     jafleron@stcc.edu

 

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