About the Program

Each time a patient encounters a health care provider, that provider must provide appropriate codes for procedures, diagnoses, and durable medical goods to payers for appropriate reimbursement. The codes not only explain what the procedures patient had encountered but also why they had the procedure. Coding is critically important for compliance for payers because it impacts revenue streams. It also ensures that patients are not inappropriately coded for the disease process they have. Coders work in physicians’ offices, hospitals and clinics.

Degree: Technical Certificate

Courses: Coding 1, 2, 3, and 4 plus a practicum, Human Structure and Function, Human Diseases, Medical Terminology, general education courses such as Psychology, English 101, and General Education math

Kara Mahannah
Phone: (208) 732-6728
E-mail: kmahannah@csi.edu
Occupational options: Certified Professional Coder

• Physician office or group
• Hospital-associated physician office or group
• Health system-associated physician office or group
• Home health agency
• Physician group at University and or in teaching setting
• Compliance auditor or forensic auditor of physician claims
• Physician Billing service
• Ambulatory surgery center (ASC)
• Outpatient hospital services not reimbursed by Ambulatory Patient Category (APCs) groups
• If you are a consultant, educator, legal counsel, physician or other care-giver seeking credential to demonstrate your command of physician based medical coding

Outlook:

Idaho and National Salary: Median annual earnings of medical records and health information technicians were $28,030 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent earned between $22,420 and $35,990. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $19,060, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $45,260. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of medical records and health information technicians in May 2006 were: