Coding and Reimbursement Technical Certificate

Professional Medical Coders

They are the individuals who analyze medical records and assign codes to report diagnoses and procedures for reimbursement purposes and medical research in hospitals, physicians’ offices and other healthcare facilities. They need understanding of health records, disease processes, medical procedures, labs, pharmacology and anatomy in addition to the ICD-9 and CPT coding systems.

What Is A Reimbusement Specialist

These individuals may work in a healthcare business office where they need an understanding of interactive events and actions throughout the internal and external healthcare systems in order to process patient accounts. Reimbursement specialists examine patient claims and accounts and assign proper charges and codes to process the account efficiently for accurate reimbursement.

Summary of Requirements

Students are required to take:

Application Deadline May 31st

This certificate will provide skills for eligibility to sit for the CCA exam. The CCA should be viewed as the starting point for an individual entering a new career as a coder. The CCA credential is an excellent supplemental credential or entry level credential for certain outpatient medical environments.

See www.AHIMA.org for certification information.

Professional Coding Credentials

AHIMA Credentials (American Health Information Management Association)

• Certified Coding Associate — CCA
• Requirements — Coding Education or entry level experience
• Certified Coding Specialist — CCS master coder
• Certified Coding Specialist Physician Based — CCS-P master coder<
• Requirements — Coding experience using both ICD and CPT/ Coding Education

For more information contact the Program Director, Valerie Bowling, at Valerie.Bowling@volstate.edu of (615) 230 - 3337

Day and Evening Classes available.

Coding/Reimbursement Gainful Employment Information

What job(s) might I get with this degree?

Medical Records and Health Information Technicians

How long will it take me to complete this program?

Normal Time to Completion	Percent of 2010-2011 Graduates Completing in Normal Time
3 Semesters	33%

Normal time is defined as the number of semesters that a student would be enrolled in a program if they attended on a full-time basis and enrolled in at least 15 hours per semester. The percentage of students completing on time does not take into consideration that some students take fewer than 15 hours during a semester.

What are the chances of getting a job when I graduate?

Number of 2010-2011 Graduates	Percent of 2010-2011 Graduates Employed in Field
13	37.5%

(Note: Placement information is gathered in accordance with the standards of the Tennessee Board of Regents requirements. Placement data is gathered six months after graduation. Graduates are exempted from the placement rates in accordance with the standards of the Higher Education Authorization Act due to the following reasons: enrollment in further education, military service, a medical condition that prevents the graduate from working in his/her field of study, family or home responsibilities that prevent the graduate from working in his/her field of study.)

How much will this program cost?

	In-State	Out-of-State
Tuition and Fees	$2967	$11388.00
Books and Supplies	$1425	$1425
On-Campus Room and Board	Not offered	Not offered

What are my financing options to pay for the program?

Source of Funds	Median Amount for 2010-2011 Graduates
Median Debt for 2009-2010 Graduates	$6219
Median Debt from Title IV Loans	$6219
Median Debt from Other Sources	$0

Note: Median loan amounts reflect the total borrowed from entry at the institution to completion of this program.