University of Montana Catalog 2023-2024

Medical Information Technology A.A.S. - Health Information Coding Specialty

Michelle Boller, Director

Health information coders play a critical role in accurately identifying procedures and diagnoses to ensure accurate billing and reimbursement. Students are trained to:

  • Understand anatomy, medical terminology, and disease processes necessary to determine correct codes and sequences.
  • Analyze health records and to accurately abstract and code procedures and diagnoses utilizing legal and regulatory standards.
  • Communicate with physicians, healthcare facilities, insurance companies, and patients to ensure accurate and timely reimbursement.

Graduates are adequately prepared for many roles, such as working in a front office with patients or behind the scenes with insurance companies and healthcare facilities. Upon graduation, students are encouraged and eligible to sit for AHIMA Certified Coding Associate (CCA) and Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) or AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification exams to increase their employment opportunities.

 

Associate of Applied Science - Medical Information Technology; Health Information Coding Concentration

Summary

Core Courses50
Coding Courses - Great Falls-MSU12
Total Hours62

Degree Specific Credits: 62

Required Cumulative GPA: 2.0

Note: See Program Director for scope and sequence advising. Please refer to online schedule for online course availability.

Core Courses

Complete all of the following courses:
AHMS 144Medical Terminology3
AHMS 156Medical Billing Fundamentals3
AHMS 216Pharmaceutical Products3
AHMS 220Medical Office Procedures4
AHMS 252Computerized Medical Billing3
AHMS 270EMedical Ethics3
AHMS 298Medical Information Internship3
BGEN 215Career Readiness3
BIOH 104NBasic Human Biology3
BIOH 105NBasic Human Biology Laboratory1
CAPP 154MS Word3
COMX 115SIntroduction to Interpersonal Communication3
CSCI 172Intro to Computer Modeling3
HIT 265Electronic Health Records3
M 105Contemporary Mathematics3
or M 115 Probability and Linear Mathematics
PSYX 100SIntro to Psychology3
WRIT 101College Writing I3
Total Hours50

Minimum Required Grade: C-


Coding Courses - Great Falls-MSU

Note: AHMS 160, AHMS 164, AHMS 212, and AHMS 213 are taken through Great Falls College-MSU. Students must also take AHMS 201 at Great Falls College-MSU in order to register for AHMS 160 and AHMS 164. See program director for coding course information.

Complete all of the following courses:
AHMS 160Beginning Procedural Coding3
AHMS 164AHMS 164 Beginning Diagnosis Coding: ICD-103
AHMS 212CPT Coding3
AHMS 213ICD-10 CODING3
Total Hours12

Minimum Required Grade: C-