Program Overview

Comprehensive Coding & Revenue Integrity Specialist Certificate

Summary

Prepare online for an entry-level career as an inpatient and outpatient coder, biller, patient account representative and other support positions in a variety of healthcare settings.

What You’ll Learn

• Apply knowledge of medical and clinical terminology, anatomy and physiology, human diseases and pharmacology.
• Read and interpret patient medical records, utilize an electronic health record, and query physicians when appropriate to obtain an accurate code.
• Accurately assign diagnostic and procedural codes in accordance with Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set (UHDDS), National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI), American Hospital Association (AHA), and American Medical Association (AMA) guidelines for inpatient and outpatient health record.
• Use computerized encoders to group to proper prospective payment systems in various healthcare settings including Medicare Severity Diagnosis-Related Group (MS-DRG) and Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) case-mix systems.
• Accurately analyze clinical documentation and code patient health records as part of hierarchical condition categories (HCCs) and risk adjustment (RA) methodology and reimbursement.
• Complete commercial insurance, Medicare and Medicaid claim forms.
• Apply privacy and security regulations to protect confidential health care records and billing data.
• Identify the characteristics and key components of the U.S. healthcare delivery system.
• Describe how healthcare computer applications such as electronic health records, patient registration, health information management, and revenue cycle applications are used.
• Describe how cultural differences, cooperation, and teamwork skills relate to working with others.
• Utilize accounting terminology to interpret financial statements.

Program Description

The Certificate of Proficiency is designed to provide students with basic knowledge and skills in specific career fields to enter the workforce directly upon completion of the certificate or to seek advanced study in the field. Shoreline Community College works closely with local advisory committees comprised of industry professionals to ensure students receive the knowledge and skills currently in demand by employers.

Certificate of Proficiency (63-66 Credits)

Grade of 2.0 or better in each individual course of the program and program prerequisites required.

Additional Information

The final coding course is a virtual Medical Coding Practicum. Students will code 50 - 100 medical charts. Students wishing to continue on to obtain an Associate in Applied Arts and Sciences (AAAS) degree in Health Information Technology must meet with their advisor and apply to the program. Additional pre-requisites and courses may be required.

Professional Certifications

Graduates are eligible to take the certification examination offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) for Certified Coding Specialist-Physician's Office (CCS-P), or the entry-level Certified Coding Associate (CCA). They are also eligible to take the American Academy of Professional Coders Certified Professional Coding (CPC, CPC-H) or Certified Risk Coder (CRC) examinations. The AHIMA mastery-level Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) examination for inpatient coding is also available.

Program Prerequisites

• ENGL& 101 English Composition I or BTWRT 215 Business Communication
• BIOL& 170 Human Biology
• Basic computer application skills, including working in a PC Windows environment
• A separate initial admissions process is required. Acceptance into Shoreline Community College does not guarantee acceptance into the Comprehensive Coding & Revenue Integrity Specialist program. Early application to the program is advised as space is limited.

Academic and Program Requirements

Students are required to maintain a grade of 2.0 in ALL courses. Strong English grammar skills are essential for the program and profession. Since courses are not offered every quarter and some courses require prerequisites, students MUST confer with an HIIM Advisor to develop an academic plan.

General Education Core Requirements (2-5 Credits)

• Human Relations: (2-5 Credits)
  • BUS 105 Essentials of Human Relations
  • or
  • BUS 104 Human Relations in Business
  • or
  • HIIM 224 Management for Health Information Supervisors (for dual enrollment in MCRS and HIT)

Core Requirements (61 Credits)

• ACCT& 201 Principles of Accounting I
• HIIM 120 Healthcare Delivery in the U.S.
• HIIM 125 Hospital and Clinic Patient Records
• HIIM 134 Medical Terminology
• HIIM 154 Revenue Cycle Management
• HIIM 170 Legal Aspects of Health Care
• HIIM 171 Basic ICD-10 Coding
• HIIM 172 Outpatient Coding
• HIIM 173 Intermediate Medical Coding
• HIIM 175 Human Diseases & Pharmacology
• HIIM 225 Health Informatics Essentials
• HIIM 228 Coding Practicum & Career Prep
• HIIM 241 Hierarchical Condition Categories (HCC) Coding
• HIIM 244 Revenue Integrity

Approval To Graduate

• Student Name, SID and Date:
• Faculty Advisor and Date:
• Division Dean and Date:
• Credential Approval and Date:

Sample Schedule for Certificate of Proficiency

All courses are offered online.

* Only offered online once per year, during the quarter listed.

HIIM 134 Medical Terminology is offered every quarter.

1st Year

Fall Quarter

• HIIM 120 Healthcare Delivery in the U.S. *
• HIIM 125 Hospital and Clinic Patient Records *
• HIIM 134 Medical Terminology **

Winter Quarter

• HIIM 171 Basic ICD-10 Coding *
• HIIM 175 Human Diseases & Pharmacology *
• BUS 105 Essentials of Human Relations
• or
• BUS 104 Human Relations in Business

Spring Quarter

• HIIM 154 Revenue Cycle Management *
• HIIM 170 Legal Aspects of Health Care *
• HIIM 172 Outpatient Coding *

2nd Year

Summer Quarter

• ACCT& 201 Principles of Accounting I
• HIIM 173 Intermediate Medical Coding
• HIIM 244 Revenue Integrity *

Fall Quarter

• HIIM 225 Health Informatics Essentials *
• HIIM 228 Coding Practicum & Career Prep *
• HIIM 241 Hierarchical Condition Categories (HCC) Coding *

Program Advisor

• Melanie Meyer, PhD, RHIA, CPHQ, CCS (Advises last names A-L)
• Gloria Anderson, MEd, RHIA, CCS (Advises last names M-Z)

Program Information

• Length of Program: 63-66 Credits
• Completion Award: Certificate of Proficiency
• Enrollment: Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer
• Approximate Quarterly Costs: $25-$120 (in addition to tuition, books and parking)
• Website:

Careers & Opportunities

The job outlook for medical coding specialists is good with graduates working as Medical Coders, Medical Reimbursement Specialists, Coding Analysts, Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) Specialists, Billers, Revenue Cycle Specialist, and Patient Account Representatives.

Potential employers include: Medical and dental offices, insurance companies, medical coding and billing companies, hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Tuition & Fees

Estimated Tuition & Fees

(does not include additional program or course fees, books, or supply costs)

Per Quarter
| WA-Resident | Non-WA resident, US citizen, & Eligible non-citizen On Campus | Non-WA resident Non-US citizen¹ | Non-WA resident, US citizen Online Only
---|---|---|---|---
1 credit | $126.47 | $246.49 | $327.01 | $144.67
5 credits | $632.35 | $1,232.45 | $1,635.05 | $723.35
12 credits (full-time) | $1,387.14 | $2,487.04 | $3,408.94 | $1,571.08
15 credits | $1,570.80 | $2,520.25 | $3,617.20 | $1,757.65

¹ Includes all International Students, both on campus and overseas online

Estimated Additional Costs

• Approximately $75 - 150 per course, depending on course selected

Ways to pay for school

Federal aid, scholarships, grants, and more are available to help you pay for school.