Basic Clinical Coding Specialist Certificate

Program Description

The Basic Clinical Coding Specialist program prepares individuals for employment as entry-level coding specialists in healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinics, physician practice groups, surgery centers, long-term care facilities and home healthcare agencies. Coding specialists are also employed in consulting firms, coding and billing services, insurance companies, governmental agencies and computer software companies. The medical coding specialist reviews medical documentation provided by physicians and other healthcare providers and translates this into numeric codes. The coding specialist assigns and sequences diagnostic and procedural codes using universally recognized coding systems. Several uses of coded data are for payment of health care claims, statistics and medical research.

Coding specialists are in demand in acute-care and outpatient-care facilities, including physician office practices and long-term care facilities. A variety of government agencies require coding expertise as well.

The courses are directly transferable into Moraine Park’s Health Information Technology associate of applied science degree if students wish to further their education in this field. The certificate can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis.

Major areas of study in this program include:

• Health Information Science
• Health Care Delivery Systems
• Reimbursement
• Coding

Graduates are eligible to take the national Clinical Coding Associate (CCA) certification examination through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). They may also take AHIMA’s national Clinical Coding Specialist (CCS) examination; however, two years of coding experience are recommended before taking the CCS examination.

Approximate Costs

• $106 per credit (resident)
• $159 per credit (out-of-state resident)
• *Online students are not charged out-of-state fees.

Career Opportunities

• Clinical Coding Specialist
• Biller/Coder
• Insurance Claims Clerk
• Acute Care Coder
• Ambulatory Coder
• Physician Specialty Coder
• Coder
• Charge Master Auditor
• Other positions with an emphasis on coding/data analysis

Program Outcomes

• Evaluate documentation to support diagnoses, tests
• Assign diagnostic and procedural codes.

Admission Process

• Submit the college admission application.
• Submit the $30 one-time fee.
• Meet with Admissions to discuss order of courses and prerequisites (strongly encouraged).
• Health Requirements need to be met and a Criminal Background Check is required.