CCC, Medical Information Coder/Biller | CIP 0351071304

This is a Limited Admission Program

What is Medical Information Coding & Billing? Converting patient health information into diagnostic and procedural codes to be us d for statistics, research, policymaking, and reimbursement of healthcare services.

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.

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.

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

Certified Coding Specialist – Physician (CCS-P) is offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Learn more about the CCS-P certification.

Certified Professional Coder (CPC) is offered by AAPC. Learn more about the CPC certification and AAPC.

Certified Professional Biller (CPB) is offered by AAPC. Learn more about the CPB certification and AAPC.

Other Occupations/Job Titles:

  • Medical Coding Specialist
  • Physician Pro-Fee Coder
  • Insurance Claims Specialist
  • Reimbursement Specialist
  • Revenue Cycle Specialist
  • Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialist
  • Medical Coding Educator

Curriculum Sequence, Medical Information Coder/Biller, CCC – 37 Credits

This program is a planned sequence of instruction consisting of 37 credit hours of Program Requirements. The program is completed in four (4) semesters by college-ready students (i.e., who have completed all developmental coursework). Students should progress through the MICB certificate program as a cohort and courses must be taken in sequence which includes a summer semester. Withdrawing from a course will result in a delay in the completion of the program. MICB courses are only offered one time per academic year.

Fall Semester 1 - 11 Credit
Course Credits
BSC 1085C Anatomy and Physiology I 4 credits
HSC 1531 Medical Terminology 3 credits
HIM 1140 Essentials of Pharmacology 2 credits
HIM 1430 Principles of Diseases 2 credits
Spring Semester 2 - 15 Credit
Course Credits
BSC 1086C Anatomy and Physiology II 4 credits
CGS 1100 Computer Applications for Business 3 credits
HIM 1000 Introduction to Health Information Management 3 credits
HIM 1800C Health Information Simulation 2 credits
HIM 2724 Basic ICD-10 Coding 3 credits
Summer Semester 3 - 8 Credit
Course Credits
HIM 2279 Medical Insurance and Billing 3 credits
HIM 2253 Basic CPT Coding 3 credits
HIM 2723 Inpatient Procedural Coding 2 credits
Fall Semester 4 - 3 Credit
Course Credits
HIM 2814C Coding Office Experience 3 credits

Internship Requirements

The MICB program includes two (2) professional practice virtual lab simulation and/or in-person experience (internship) courses. The HIM 1800C Health Information Simulation course will provide a virtual lab simulation of a real-world work environment in which students will experience the use of an electronic health record.

The HIM 2814C Coding Office Experience course will provide a virtual lab simulation of a real-world medical coding work environment. Students will also complete a total of 30 hours of professional practice experience in a healthcare setting. Students are responsible for transportation to and from the clinical sites.

  • Student assignment to facilities or lab simulation is made by the Health Information Technology Faculty and is based upon site availability.
  • Facilities may be selected from within the Southwest Florida region which includes Lee, Collier, Charlotte, DeSoto, Hendry, Glades, and Sarasota Counties.
  • Clinical sites are usually open during normal business hours (8 a.m. – 5 p.m.), and they are usually closed evenings and weekends. Students are expected to be at their clinical sites Monday through Friday during normal business hours.
  • As part of this program, the student cannot receive compensation from the clinical site.

Course Prerequisites

Many courses require prerequisites. Check the description of each course in the list below for prerequisites, minimum grade requirements, and other restrictions. Students must complete all prerequisites for a course before registering for a course.

Graduation Requirements:

Students must fulfill all requirements of their program to be eligible for graduation. All courses within the MICB Program must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher.

Articulation

Courses from this certificate are embedded within the Health Information Technology Associate of Science degree. Students may pursue this certificate to develop or upgrade their skills, or pursue the A.S. degree and earn the certificate while completing the requirements for the degree. Contact the School of Health Professions Student Advisor to determine the career education path that is best for you. For more information visit the Health Information Technology AS degree page.

Career Information

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Employment of health information technicians is projected to grow 16 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations." The demand for health services is expected to increase as the population ages and will lead to an increased need for health information specialists to update clinical registries, abstract relevant details, and convert data into meaningful information. Healthcare organizations will continue to rely on these professionals for insight into improving the quality of care and controlling costs. Current occupational and wage data for Health Information Technicians/Registrars are published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Upon completion of coursework, Florida SouthWestern State College does not guarantee employment or salary in a given field of study. Any jobs or salaries mentioned are given as examples of potential employment not a representation of guaranteed income. Graduates may need to seek employment outside the local area.

Program Contact Information

For any additional program information, email us at alliedhealth@fsw.edu

Susan L Foster, EdD, MBA, RHIA, CHPS, CHC, CHPC, CIPP/US, CC, FAHIMA Program Director Email: susan.foster@fsw.edu Phone: (239) 489-9403

Alexis Augustenborg Advisor, School of Health Professions Email: Alexis.Augustenborg@fsw.edu Phone: (239) 432-7358