Medical Information Technology A.A.S. - Health Information Coding Specialty
Michelle Boller, Director
Health information coders play a critical role in accurately identifying procedures and diagnoses to ensure accurate billing and reimbursement. Students are trained to:
- Understand anatomy, medical terminology, and disease processes necessary to determine correct codes and sequences
- Analyze health records and to accurately abstract and code procedures and diagnoses utilizing legal and regulatory standards
- Communicate with physicians, healthcare facilities, insurance companies, and patients to ensure accurate and timely reimbursement
Graduates are adequately prepared for many roles, such as working in a front office with patients or behind the scenes with insurance companies and healthcare facilities. Upon graduation, students are encouraged and eligible to sit for AHIMA Certified Coding Associate (CCA) and Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) or AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification exams to increase their employment opportunities.
Associate of Applied Science - Medical Information Technology; Health Information Coding Concentration
Missoula College
Degree Specific Credits: 67
Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0
Catalog Year: 2019-2020
Note: See Program Director for scope and sequence advising. Please refer to online schedule for online course availability.
Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Courses | 55 | |
| Coding Courses - Great Falls-MSU | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 67 | |
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| AHMS 108 | Health Data Content & Struct | 2 |
| AHMS 144 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| AHMS 156 | Medical Billing Fundamentals | 3 |
| AHMS 216 | Pharmaceutical Products | 3 |
| AHMS 220 | Medical Office Procedures | 4 |
| AHMS 245 | Simulated Lab | 3 |
| AHMS 252 | Computerized Medical Billing | 3 |
| AHMS 270E | Medical Ethics | 3 |
| AHMS 298 | Medical Info Internship | 3 |
| BIOH 108 | Basic Anatomy | 4 |
| CAPP 120 | Introduction to Computers | 3 |
| CAPP 154 | MS Word | 3 |
| COMX 115S | Introduction to Interpersonal Communications | 3 |
| CSCI 172 | Intro to Computer Modeling | 3 |
| HIT 265 | Electronic Health Records | 3 |
| M 105 | Contemporary Mathematics | 3 |
| or M 115 | Probability and Linear Mathematics | |
| PSYX 100S | Intro to Psychology | 3 |
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I | 3 |
| Total Hours | 55 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-
Coding Courses - Great Falls-MSU
Note: AHMS 160, 164, 212, and 213 are taken through Great Falls College-MSU. Students must also take AHMS 201 at Great Falls College-MSU in order to register for AHMS 160 and 164. See program director for coding course information.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| AHMS 160 | Beginning Procedural Coding | 3 |
| AHMS 164 | AHMS 164 Beginning Diagnosis Coding: ICD-10 | 3 |
| AHMS 212 | CPT Coding | 3 |
| AHMS 213 | ICD-10 CODING | 3 |
| Total Hours | 12 | |
Minimum Required Grade: C-