Becoming Connecticut State Community College
STUDENTS: The Community Colleges are undergoing a merger with a plan to become Connecticut State Community College in fall 2023; please work closely with your advisor/program coordinator to select your courses accordingly. Click here for more details about this merger.
Mission
This certificate program is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in medical billing, medical coding, and health information in physician’s offices, hospitals, ambulatory care centers, telehealth, health insurance companies, and other allied health venues. The healthcare industry is facing significant changes in how providers and insurers generate, maintain, and communicate documentation related to medical records, insurance, coding, and financial reimbursement. The Health Information and Reimbursement Specialist learns to process claim submissions for compliant and equitable reimbursement.
A coding credential provides proof of competency in the field and is often a requirement for clinical coding-related and healthcare revenue management positions. This program prepares and qualifies students to take one or more of the following national industry certification exams:
National Healthcare Association (NHA)
- CBCS – Certified Billing and Coding Specialist
- CEHRS – Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist
American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC)
- CBP – Certified Professional Biller
- COC – Certified Outpatient Coder
Faculty
Melissa Bettigole, mbettigole@nwcc.edu, 860.738.6393
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, graduates should be able to:
- Utilize CPT, HCPCS, and ICD coding systems to create claims.
- Apply principles related to healthcare privacy, confidentiality, legal and ethical issues.
- Use current Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software to manage provider reimbursement and patient health information.
- Demonstrate the use of procedural and diagnostic coding reference materials.
Coursework
SEMESTER 1
MED*125 Medical Terminology – 3 credits
HIM*102 Introduction to Healthcare Systems – 3 credits
HIM*205 Medical Coding I – 3 credits
MED*112 Medical Insurance & Billing 3 – credits
SEMESTER 2
MED*216 Electronic Medical Records – 3 credits
HIM*201 Health Information Management Principles – 3 credits
HIM*203 Pathophysiology – 3 credits
HIM*210 Medical Coding – 3 credits
TOTAL CREDITS 24
Federal Regulation, 34 CFR 668.43-Institutional Information for Disclosure for Licensure Program requires the institution to disclose whether completion of a covered licensure program would be sufficient to meet licensure requirements in a State for that occupation.
Disclosure is not applicable to this program. Professional licensure, certification and/or education are not state requirements to work in Health Information Management.
Our program(s) lead to eligibility for nationally recognized professional certification(s) that are preferred by employers but not required by the state for employment in the field.