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. There are many coding and insurance rules and policies for coding hundreds of thousands of codes. Medical coding is much like learning a foreign language.  Medical Coding is a difficult program to grasp. 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 of time.

• 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. These are prerequisites students must achieve first.
•  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 32-week schedule is tightly scheduled to reduce the program length of time. All courses run consecutively. 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 must have successfully completed 3 prerequisite courses within the past 12 months; medical terminology, pathopharmacology, and Healthcare Data & EHR, in order to enter Part II.
• 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.

SC State Scholarship Application for Part II:
Only when Part I prerequisites are met, or if a Registered Nurse, can SC residents apply for the tuition Scholarship for Part II.
Scholarship Applications are available for the Spring (January) semester in the fall, 11/1-12/11/23. NO scholarship applications are available in January. The scholarship pays the tuition only, students must purchase all e-Books.
 
How to apply for Part II:

1. SC residents must complete the scholarship application, attach their ID, and the Registration office to email you within 10 days to get your application processed. State Scholarship pays for tuition only. Students must purchase e-books.
2. SC residents must apply for the State Scholarship 1-2 months before the start date. Scholarship applications for the January courses are available only during these dates 11/1-12/11/23. See this >link: https://www.tridenttech.edu/ce/funding/workforce-pathways-scholarship.htm
3. Students must provide documentation of the three prerequisite courses taken within the past 12 months, or their RN license,  email to: kayla.brunelle@tridenttech.edu

Coding Specialist Part II Online e-book costs:

1. e-Textbooks:  Students must purchase Cengage Unlimited 12-month access subscription, $211, used for all courses in Part I and Part II. Available at the TTC Bookstore, bldg 950. Do not activate until the course start date. NEEDED FOR 1ST COURSE.
2. e-Coding manuals:  Students must purchase the Optum Encoder Pro 12-month subscription, $120, used for the 2nd thru the 5th  courses in Part II. This will take students through all 4 core coding courses in Part II below. Available at the TTC Bookstore, bldg 950. Do not activate until the course start date. NEEDED FOR 2ND COURSE.

Coding Specialist Part II:

Understd Health Insurance	1/8-2/23/24
ICD10-CM Coding	2/26-4/12/24
ICD10-PCS Coding	4/15-5/31/24
CPT 1 Coding	6/3-7/19/24
CPT 2 Coding Advanced Part II	7/22-9/8/24