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Volunteer State Community College

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:

Summer Semester
Course Title Credit Hours
AHC115 Medical Terminology 3
HIT 225 Pathophysiology 3
Fall Semester
Course Title Credit Hours
HIT 115 Intro to Health Information Technology 4
HIT 210 ICD-CM Coding 4
Spring Semester
Course Title Credit Hours
HIT 215 CPT Coding 4
HIT 230 Reimbursement Methodologies 3

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.