Medical Information Coder/Biller: Health Information Management

Health/Medical Information Coder/Billers transform verbal descriptions of disease, injury and procedures into numerical designations. Universally recognized coding systems provide information for reimbursement of healthcare claims, medical statistics and research.

Seminole State College's Medical Information Coder/Biller: Health Information Management Program is a college-credit certificate program, consisting of 34/35 college-credit hours and is approved as a comprehensive coding program by the American Health Information Management Association.

For students who wish to advance their career opportunities, Seminole State offers an Associate in Science in Health Information Management, which is required to continue on to a bachelor's degree program.

Medical coding and billing skills are taught manually and enhanced with coding and billing software applications. Upon completion of the program, students have the technical skills that are necessary to enter the healthcare delivery market as an entry-level medical coder and biller, and they possess the knowledge to become a nationally certified coder.

Day, evening and online courses are available, and most major courses are available during evenings and online. Students must have access to an Internet-accessible capable computer while enrolled in the program (access to computers is available on all Seminole State Campuses). Online courses are available for specific courses (see Medical Coding course schedule). 

Go to the Enrollment Services Web site for a fee schedule. Textbooks and other fees will vary from semester to semester.

 Graduates of Seminole State's Medical Information Coder/Biller: Health Information Management Program typically become employed throughout Central Florida at companies, such as the Coding Edge, Inc., Physician Associates of Florida, the Florida Hospital, Orlando Regional Healthcare and United Healthcare, to name a few.

What Does a Medical Coder/Biller Do?

The medical coder/billers are integral members of the professional healthcare team, as they are familiar with the anatomy and physiology of the human body and disease processes, and are needed almost every time a healthcare professional treats a patient.

• Analyzing medical records and assigning codes to diagnoses and procedures.
• Organizing records for patient billing, insurance claims and account management.
• Tabulating information for health surveys, research studies and improved patient care. 
• Communicating with other healthcare personnel to clarify diagnoses or obtain additional information.

Medical Information Coders/Billers are typically detail-oriented, analytical, and investigative, they like to read and thrive in the knowledge of medicine. As such, they are employed by hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices, health maintenance organizations, mental healthcare facilities and insurance companies.

Licensure/Certification

The American Health Information Management Association and the American Academy of Professional Coders sponsor a certification examination for medical record coders. Upon successful completion of this exam, medical record coders are given the title of  (one who is skilled in classifying medical data, generally in a hospital setting).

Medical record coders can also choose to become a certified coding specialist practitioner, with expertise in physician-based settings (physician offices, group practices or specialty centers). Upon successful completion of the AAPC exam, medical record coders are given the title of certified professional coder or certified professional coder hospital.

Salary

In 2007, the mean hourly wage for Medical Records and Health Information Technicians in Florida was $15.07/hour. 

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