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.

GENERAL ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE REQUIREMENTS

Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page. 

Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.

Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a major, minor, or certificate program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.