Medical Coding & Reimbursement Program Curriculum Guide Updated 03/03/2015

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1 Medical Coding & Reimbursement Program Curriculum Guide Updated 03/03/2015 The information contained within this curriculum guide is the official Medical Coding & Reimbursement Program Policies and Procedures effective for the academic year It is the student s responsibility to keep updated on any program changes. I. General Overview: The Medical Coding & Reimbursement Program is offered at the Downtown Campus of the college, located near the heart of the Louisville Medical Center Campus. It is a credit hour, collegiate program leading to a Certificate in Medical Coding & Reimbursement; the program prepares students to assume responsibilities of billers, coders and practice management staff within provider-based settings and elsewhere. These duties and responsibilities include providing revenue cycle support, promoting compliance with regulatory standards, professional medical billing and/or coding duties, among others. The curriculum includes course work in the supporting sciences and the core program requirements. Interested students should contact the Medical Coding & Reimbursement Academic Program Coordinator or the Allied Health Master Advisor for additional information. II. Contact Information - The preferred method of contact is via Phyllis Diedrich or Dan O Bryan Allied Health Master Advisor Program Web Site: College Web Site: Mailing Address: Medical Coding & Reimbursement/Allied Health Division Jefferson Community and Technical College, Suite E. Broadway-HSB, Louisville, KY III. Admission Policies and Procedures: A. College Admission The student must first apply to the college. This can be done on-line or in-person on the first floor of the Jefferson Educational Center. Admission to the College does not imply admission to any specific program. An Admissions Application may be found on the college website. B. Program Admission The Medical Coding & Reimbursement Program does not currently have a selective admissions policy. However, the expectations are that students shall have: Posted 3/3/2015 1

2 a.) Successfully completed pre-requisite courses, for example FYE 105 b.) Pre-requisite courses are: FYE 105; Computer c.) AHS 115; BIO 135 (these 2 courses could also be taken while taking MBS 100 d.) Meet with Master Advisor and complete an APP e.) Attend an orientation and bring a completed letter of intent and copy of transcript f.) Meet with Academic Program Coordinator after attending an orientation (see website for dates) g.) Instructors Permission via mail to register for MBS 120 (Spring Semester) Note: Admission preference may be given to veterans of military service and their spouses and families. JCTC will give admission preference to veterans of military service and their spouses and families. IV. Technical Standards: The Medical Coding & Reimbursement Specialist works to promote, maintain and improve the management of health care data within organizations. Computerization, on-going legislative reforms, information and data needs within the industry, advances in medical practice and the need to contain health care costs while practices strive to optimize reimbursement have resulted in an increased demand for certified coding and billing specialists. All applicants should possess: a.) Sufficient visual acuity, such as needed to read and assess patient medical records; b.) Sufficient auditory perception to receive and interpret verbal communication from individuals and groups; c.) Sufficient gross and fine motor coordination to perform business machine, office and computer tasks; d.) Sufficient communication skills (speech, reading, writing) to interact with individuals and groups; e.) Sufficient intellectual and emotional functions to plan and implement health care coding and reimbursement functions. According to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) law, it is a student s personal decision to disclose a disability. If students choose to disclose a disability, by college policy, they will be directed to the Disability Resource Center. By law, all reasonable accommodations will be made. Students with disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids or services) for this program must contact the Access Ability Resource Center (Student Disability Services) at before the start of the semester. Please DO NOT request accommodations directly from the professor or instructor. V. Minimum Requirements Established by the Senate Rules for admission into the Applicant Pool: Preference may be given to: Students with contemporary experience(s) in medical coding and billing; Students with promising insight into health care revenue industry; Students well-qualified to attempt certification exams; Students with a grade of C or better in pre-requisite course. Student must attend an orientation Student must meet with Academic Program Coordinator It is important to note, at present the Medical Coding & Reimbursement Program has a noncompetitive admission policy. However, not all students interested in the program may qualify to enter. The academic standards of KCTCS shall be upheld throughout the admissions and graduation process. Posted 3/3/2015 2

3 VI. Application Process and Deadlines: Step 1: Apply to Jefferson Community & Technical College; Step 2: Schedule a meeting with the Allied Health Master Advisor Step 3: Establish an Academic Progress Plan (APP) with an Allied Health Master Advisor; Step 4: Follow the APP when registering for courses in current and future semesters. Step 5: Attend an orientation VII. Post Admission Requirements and Deadlines: 1. Follow the Academic Program Plan (APP) for Medical Coding & Reimbursement; 2. Attend pre-admissions orientation and develop a formal or informal career plan through which professional and academic development opportunities can be tailored to student needs; 3. Register for physician coding certification through either the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) or American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) at the beginning of the final semester of study; as an alternative, students may take an entry-level certification offered by AHIMA, the Certified Coding Associate (CCA); 4. Participate in all coding certification preparatory efforts. VIII. Criminal Background Checks and Drug Testing: All Allied Health majors with a clinical component within their major must submit to a criminal background check and drug screening. This is to ensure a safe clinical environment for both students and the public and to meet the contractual requirements of area healthcare facilities. Situations in which a student does not have a satisfactory background check or drug test, will be reviewed by the Dean of Allied Health on a case-by-case basis. Convictions involving the following crimes may serve to disqualify a person from participating in required clinical learning experiences: 1. any felony, whether listed below or not 2. crimes involving drugs, including but not limited to unlawful possession or distribution 3. crimes of physical violence to include any type of abuse (child, spousal, or of the elderly), abduction such as kidnapping, manslaughter, murder, robbery, sexual crimes, possession of a restricted fire arm or any related weapons offenses, assault and battery or 4. Conviction of a misdemeanor related to abuse, neglect or exploitation. Drug screening may be required of a student at any time throughout the course of study if there is reasonable suspicion on the part of the program faculty that the student may be using a controlled substance not prescribed by a health care provider. Positive findings on a drug screen or refusal to submit to a requested drug screen will result in immediate administrative withdrawal of the student from the program. Each student will be given the designated facility and time once they are accepted into the program. The cost of background checks and drug testing is the responsibility of each student. IX. Accreditation: Jefferson Community and Technical College is a public, comprehensive, postsecondary institution accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award the associate degree. X. Credentialing Exam(s)/Licensure: Upon successful completion of this program, the graduate is eligible to sit for professional coder credentialing examinations offered by either the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) or American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). Posted 3/3/2015 3

4 Coding practitioners are not currently required to hold a license of any sort in order to gain or maintain employment in the industry. However, coder certification has been shown to improve marketability, increase career viability and significantly impact salary and qualification for promotion. XI. Financial Information/Expenses : Specific questions concerning financial assistance should be directed to the Downtown Campus Financial Aid Office located on the 4 th floor of the Jefferson Education Center or by calling (502) Tuition information is available on-line at the college s website. 2. Book costs will vary based upon the specific Academic Program Plan of each student. 3. Liability insurance determined for students who participate in practicals/internships. 4. Criminal Background Checks are provided at no-charge to students. 5. Drug Testing is provided at no-charge to students. 6. Transportation to clinical sites is the responsibility of students; it may vary dependent upon the individual practical sites selected by students and the Academic Program Coordinator. 7. Student membership to the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) - (student responsibility). 8. Cost of Certification exams through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) that includes one (1) free re-take; certification exams through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) cost for the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) and for the Certified Coding Specialist Physician-based (CCS-P). 9. Students also incur costs of any additional certifications for which he/she is qualified and elects to pursue. XII. Additional Information A. Developmental Course Work Students needing developmental math courses cannot take collegiate math and/or science courses until they successfully complete their development courses. Students needing developmental English or Reading can only take a computer class until developmental classes are completed successfully B. Placement/Assessment Testing The ACT and Compass math scores are only good for two (2) years and the English scores are only good for five (5) years. If they are older, you must be Compass tested again for that section. C. Other Requirements Students are required to join a professional association during their studies. D. Course Time Limitations Medical Coding & Reimbursement Program faculty shall review and grant course credit commensurate with both previously completed academic work and the standards and policies of Jefferson Community & Technical College; guidance shall be garnered from the Allied Health Division Chair for any unique academic situations. PRE-requisite: FYE 105 Computer Literacy IT 100: Computer Literacy (3) CIT 105: Introduction to Computing (3) CIS 100: Introduction to Computers (3) REQUIRED COURSES: Anatomy & Physiology Posted 3/3/2015 4

5 BIO 135: Basic Anatomy & Physiology with Lab (4) (Recommended) BIO 137: Human Anatomy & Physiology I (4) Part I (must take 139 if BIO 137 is taken) * BIO 139: Human Anatomy & Physiology II --- Part II (4) [NOTE: Only students who have taken BIO 137 previous semester] Medical Terminology Course AHS 115: Medical Terminology (3) CLA 131: Medical Terminology from Greek and Latin (3) OST 103: Medical Officer Terminology (3) Progression in the Medical Coding and Reimbursement Specialist Program is contingent upon achievement of a grade of C or greater in each course and maintenance of a 2.0 cumulative grade point average or above (on a 4.0 scale) The following is an example to follow in taking courses Fall Semester : BIO 135 (4 credit hours) BIO 137 & BIO 139 AHS 115 Medical Terminology (3) MBS 100: Introduction to the Health Care Field (2) HIT 100 HST 102 Healthcare Delivery and Management (3) MBS 110: Medical Insurance and Claims Processing (6) Spring Semester: MBS 120: Coding for Reimbursement (4credit hrs.)- CPT coding first 8 weeks MBS 120 Coding for Reimbursement (4 credit hrs)-icd coding second 8 weeks HST 122: Pathophysiology (recommended) (3) HST 121 Pharmacology (3 credit hours) (recommended) (3) An elective of choice (needed to meet financial aid requirements), such as a Math course Summer MBS 199: Internship (Optional decided by instructor if certain criteria is met) Posted 3/3/2015 5

6 Please watch the Medical Coding & Reimbursement Program homepage for application deadlines and requirements. Part of the application process will require students to attend a Pre-Admission Conference with program faculty. Those dates are listed below. The Kentucky Community and Technical College System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age religion, marital status, sex or handicap in employment, educational programs or activities as set forth in Title IX of the Educational Amendment of 1972, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Section 504 of the Rehabilitation act of VX. Pre-admission Conference Dates/Sites : call check web site 9 am HSB 371 November 14 th 2014 and 5:00 November 14 th in HSB 371 Please bring APP, letter of interest to the MBS program and a copy of all transcripts Application deadline: 1 month before Fall semester January 8, 2015 in room HSB 371, 9:00 am and 5:00 pm April 8, 2015 in room HSB 371, 9:00 am and 5:00 pm Students shall NOT be enrolled for any Medical Coding & Reimbursement classes until they have attended the meeting above; failure to appear and submit a program interest form will result in delays completing the academic course of study. Posted 3/3/2015 6