Medical Billing & Coding Specialist™

The Medical Billing Specialist program at Red Rocks Community College prepares students who complete the 18 credit program to sit for national certification from the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) to become a CPC (Certified Professional Coder).

What does a Medical Billing & Coding Person Do?

Medical Billing & Coding Specialist is a certificate or AAS (Associates of Applied Science) program. The certificate takes approximately 1 ½ semesters and the AAS follows guidelines similar to the Medical Administrative Office AAS and takes approximately 2 yrs.

Graduates work in the healthcare industry in billing offices that take the information from a patient's visit with a provider and convert it into a series of alphanumeric codes that are used by the insurance companies to determine what is then paid to the provider. This career handles the financial income of the healthcare industry and without competent coders, providers and hospitals would lose income. Once students have completed the program they are eligible to sit for the national certification exam to become a CPC (certified professional coder) through the AAPC. Many graduates start as a Medical Biller and advance to become Professional Coders.

OUR MISSION:

To provide an innovative learning environment that emulates the workforce environment for the purpose of graduating competent healthcare team members that are prepared to enter healthcare as a clinical professional.

WHAT IS REQUIRED

Red Rocks Community College is requiring all incoming students to meet English requirements to be successful in their courses. Students must test/place into ENG 121 or higher. Courses do not need to be taken, only test scores that show competency at that level are required. Acceptable documentation: a placement score deemed passing by RRCC, SAT/ACT (less than 2 years old), previous ENG 090 or higher course work at a college, college degree or certificate

The Medical Billing & Coding Certificate Program requires completion of the MAT 050 prerequisite prior to entering advanced courses. MAT 120 or higher is required if you are in the AAS program. The MOT department requires all students to pass courses with a grade of "C" or better.

It is recommended that while in the Medical Assisting Program you not be employed or that you work no more than 20hr/week in order in ensure student success.

For those pursuing Medical Assisting or Medical Office Technology programs a background/drug screen is required prior to internship, but information should be obtained from the program advisors prior to completing either of these.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS & BACKGROUND CHECK

Criminal Background Check/Drug screen

Students will be required to complete cigna credentialing and pass a criminal background check, prior to starting their internships. Further information will be given during MOT 131 or internship orientation. Students unable to complete this requirement will not be able to continue into the internship or finish the certificate.

Health/Immunizations Check

At this time students are not required to complete a health/immunization check prior to the start of internship If you wish to update your immunizations or are enrolled in another program in which it is required, you can download the form here- Health/Immunization form can be downloaded here. If you do have the form completed please bring this to internship orientation for us to have it on file.