Overview
About the Program
Medical Billing and Coding Certificate (CCA, CPC-A, CPMA, CPB, CRCR). This certificate program is online.
Medical Billing and Coding Technicians or Health Information Technicians organize and manage health information data. They ensure that the patient information is high quality, accurate, accessible, and secure in both paper and electronic health records systems. Using various classification systems, they code and categorize patient information for insurance reimbursement purposes, databases, and registries and to maintain medical and treatment histories. After completing the certificate program, one is eligible to sit for a coding/billing credentialing exam through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), a coding credential through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) or the Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) credential through the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).
The Medical Biller/Coder or Health Information Technician fields is growing faster than average. According to the US Bureau of Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, this area of healthcare has a 15% growth outlook through 2024 and is expected to increase as the population ages. (BLS, September 2019).
Certification
Students who complete MTC’s Medical Billing and Coding certificate program are eligible to sit for the certification exam offered by either the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA, 233 N. Michigan Ave., 21st Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60601-5800 ) www.ahima.org the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC, 2233 S Presidents Rd, Suite F, Salt Lake City, Utah 84120, 800-626-2633, www.aapc.com or the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) 3 Westbrook Corporate Center, Suite 600, Westchester, IL 60154-5732. Other certification exams include the Certified Medical Biller, Certified Professional Medical Auditor, and the Certified Professional Compliance Officer; all through the AAPC. These certifications demonstrate the holder’s expertise in medical billing, auditing and regulatory compliance. Graduates typically pursue either the Certified Coding Associate credential (CCA) through AHIMA or the Certified Professional Coder Apprentice (CPC-A) through AAPC.
Occupational Certification Opportunities
- Industry Certification: CCA (Certified Coding Assistant), CCS-P, CCA, CPC
- National Health Career Association (NHA): Certified Billing & Coding Specialist (CBCS)
Application Requirements – Limited Enrollment
- MTC Application for Admission and nonrefundable application fee.
- Final high school transcript (or GED results) and college transcripts (if applicable).
- Successful completion of the ACT or Basic Skills Assessment (Next Gen ACCUPLACER) in reading, writing, and mathematics.
- A minimum 2.5 accumulative grade point average (GPA) in high school or college-level courses (whichever is most recent).
- Completed Medical Billing and Coding program application.
Career Opportunities
Curriculum
The following is a typical course sequence for completing this program. The actual time needed to complete the program will vary according to each student’s individual needs.
First Semester
Second Semester
| HIT1301 | Clinical Classifications ICD10-CM/PCS | 4 |
| HIT1302 | Current Procedural Terminology | 3 |
| HIT1400 | Healthcare Reimbursement | 2 |
| ALH1120 | Human Diseases | 3 |
Third Semester
| HIT2500 | Health Infor Mgt & Data Governance | 3 |
| HIT1500 | Advanced Clinical Classification System | 3 |
| HIT1900 | HIT Professional Practice I | 1 |
Total Credit Hours: 34