Associate of Science/Applied Science in Insurance Billing and Coding Specialist (ASIBCS/AASIBCS)

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(Please see the Undergraduate Program Offerings by Campus chart in the catalog or on the Herzing Website at www.herzing.edu/career-programs/downloads for a list of Herzing campuses offering this program.)

Program Description

The goal of this program is to provide the student with a thorough understanding of the content of the medical record as well as extensive training in anatomy, physiology, the disease processes, and medical terminology. This program will provide the student with the knowledge and understanding to analyze medical records and assign codes to classify diagnoses and procedures while applying the principles of professional and ethical conduct. The program will prepare the student for an entry-level position as a medical biller and/or medical coder in a hospital, clinic, physician’s office, or other healthcare facility.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student should be able to:

Analyze medical documentation for appropriate codes using terminology, disease process, anatomy and physiology and pharmacology.
Employ appropriate coding format and guidelines to assign diagnosis codes.
Employ appropriate coding format and guidelines to assign procedure codes.
Apply medical billing and reimbursement methodology.

Potential Occupational Titles

Potential occupational titles for this program include, but are not limited to, medical records, medical billers, medical secretaries, and coding specialists.

Program Content

A minimum of 61.00 semester credit hours is required for graduation.

Required Courses

All courses, 27.00 semester credit hours, are required.

HC 115 - Medical Terminology for Healthcare Professionals (Semester Credit Hour Course) 2.00 semester credit hours
MC 208 - Program Review 1.00 semester credit hour
MC 271 - Diagnosis Coding I 3.00 semester credit hours
MC 272 - Procedure Coding I 3.00 semester credit hours
MC 273 - Diagnosis Coding II 3.00 semester credit hours
MC 274 - Procedure Coding II 3.00 semester credit hours
MO 110 - Keyboarding 1.00 semester credit hour
MO 150 - Pathophysiology and Pharmacology 2.00 semester credit hours
MO 150L - Pathophysiology and Pharmacology Lab 1.00 semester credit hour
MO 205 - Insurance Claims, Processing and Adjudication 3.00 semester credit hours
MO 211 - Healthcare Systems and Operations 3.00 semester credit hours
MO 216 - Ethics and Health Information Management 2.00 semester credit hours

Required Internship or Research Project

4.00 semester credit hours are required.

MC 291 - Insurance Billing and Coding Case Study Research Project 4.00 semester credit hours
MC 294 - Insurance Billing and Coding Internship 4.00 semester credit hours */ **

Note:

* Online students in some states may not be allowed to take this internship due to state restrictions.

** Enrollment in a student readiness training is required four terms prior to internship course. Successful completion of training is required prior to internship course enrollment.

General Education Requirements

Students enrolled in this associate’s degree must complete a minimum of 28.00 semester credit hours in general education distributed among the following disciplines. Refer to the General Education section of the catalog for Herzing University courses that would satisfy these requirements. *

8.00 Semester Credit Hours in Anatomy and Physiology With Lab
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Computer Applications ♦ ■
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in English Composition
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Humanities With a Critical Thinking Focus ** ♦
1.00 Semester Credit Hours in Information Literacy
4.00 Semester Credit Hours in Mathematics (College Algebra or Above)
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Social or Behavioral Science
3.00 Semester Credit Hours in Speech

■ Students in the ASIBCS/AASIBCS program must take MO 111 - Computer Software Applications in Healthcare to fulfill this general education requirement.

* Transfer students may transfer courses that are within 1.00 semester credit hour of the courses listed above to meet these discipline requirements. Any resulting deficiency in the total of 28.00 semester credit hours required in general education may be made up with general education electives from any of the listed disciplines.

** A course with a critical thinking focus would be a course that addresses the theories and application of critical analysis with an emphasis on developing sequential reasoning skills. Examples may be courses in critical thinking, philosophy, logic, or science.

♦ The state of Minnesota requires a minimum of 20.00 semester credit hours of general education for associate’s degrees, not counting computer applications. However, all Herzing University students in the AASIBCS program must complete a minimum of 28.00 semester credit hours in general education, including computer applications, to complete the requirement for graduation from this associate’s degree program. Minnesota students must complete at least 2.00 semester credit hours of general education in the humanities.

Personal and Professional Development Courses

2.00 semester credit hours are required.

PD 121 - Professional Development I (Semester Credit Hour Course) 1.00 semester credit hour
PD 202 - Professional Development II (Semester Credit Hour Course) 1.00 semester credit hour