Medical Coding Specialist Part II

Program Description:
Medical Coders work in hospitals, and physician offices and read patient records containing medical terminology, medical procedures, disease diagnosis, and insurance information. This is a complex learning program, 73% of students who start the coding program are successful in completing it. Students will learn a great deal of information in a short period. Learning online is not for every student. All courses run consecutively.

• Coders must understand the basic sciences well, medical terminology, disease processes, and the Health Insurance industry including Medicare and Medicaid in order to code accurately.
•  There are many rules for accurate coding and it takes a great deal of practice, research, and expertise to master. Coding instructors often state that learning medical coding is similar to learning a foreign language.
• The schedule is tightly scheduled to reduce the program length of time. Asynchronous learning allows students to learn on their own schedule, within a certain timeframe; the start date, and the end date. 
• The curriculum teaches toward two national certifications required by employers:
  • the AAPC credential CPC (Certified Professional Coder) www.aapc.com
  • the AHIMA credential CCA or CCS (Certified Coding Associate or Certified Coding Specialist) www.ahima.org

Requirements for Coding Part II:

• Students entering Part II are first required to have successfully completed the 3 prerequisite courses within the past 12 months; medical terminology, pathopharmacology, and Healthcare Data & EHR. If student is a current RN registered nurse, prerequisites are not needed.
• Students must have daily access to a computer with high-speed internet access, a webcam, and microphone, Microsoft Office Suite, or equivalent, Adobe Flash Player and Acrobat Reader. Using a phone or any mobile device to complete a course is not recommended or reliable.
• Students must purchase the online e-books. See below for costs.

To decide if medical coding is right for you please view these short videos from coding experts; 

•  http://youtu.be/qlXKdUV_eRE  This video is a must-see!
•  https://youtu.be/tWBXte0RN8w  The difference between billing and coding.

How to register for Coding Part II courses:

1. Students must provide documentation of the three prerequisite courses taken, (within the past 12 months), or their current RN license,  email to: kayla.brunelle@tridenttech.edu
2. Scholarship applications for Fall will be available 5/20/2024 until 8/2/24. Workforce Pathways Scholarship Application  https://www.tridenttech.edu/ce/funding/workforce-pathways-scholarship.htm  / Email: ce.scholarship@tridenttech.edu
   Scholarships pay tuition only, students must purchase books.

Coding Specialist Part II Online e-book costs:

1. e-Textbooks:  Students must purchase Cengage Unlimited 12-month access subscription, $211, needed and used for all courses, and McGraw Hill Medical Insurance, $100. Both are available at the TTC Bookstore, bldg 950.   
2. e-Coding manuals:  Students must purchase the Optum Encoder Pro 12-month subscription, $120 needed for all 4 coding courses below; the 2nd thru the 5th courses in Part II. Available at the TTC Bookstore, bldg 950. Do not activate until the course start date. 

Coding Specialist Part II:

PART II	FALL 2024
Health Insurance xhim508>	8/12-9/27/24
I-10-CM coding xhim502>	9/30-11/15/24
I-10-PCS coding xhim503>	11/18-1/24/25
CPT 1 coding xhim509>	1/27/25-3/14/25
CPT 2 coding  xhim 510>	3/17-5/04/25