Allied Health Professions

Health Information Technology: Billing and Coding

Harrison County Campus / Hybrid

This program is being offered at a special discounted rate. Many of the standard fees, excluding tuition, are being covered by a grant. Contact Richelle Smith for more information and details on program costs at richelle.smith@mgccc.edu or (228) 896-2549.

Apply to HIT: Billing and Coding

The Health Information Technology (HIT) program is a 2-year technical program leading to an associate degree that prepares the individual to work as a technical specialist in Health Record Systems. Health Information Technology combines a profession in health care with information technology. Health Information technicians maintain, collect, and analyze data crucial to the delivery of quality patient care.

Offered under a hybrid platform, the HIT program at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College will include an emphasis in billing and coding allowing the opportunity to complete with a career certificate, technical certificate and/or the associate of applied science degree for technical skills attainment. Graduates who successfully earn the career certificate may qualify to sit for the Medical Terminology Certification exam offered through the National Workforce Career Association (NWCA). Graduates who successfully earn the technical certificate may qualify to sit for the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) and/or the Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) credential offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

When accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) in cooperation with the American Health Information Management Association’s (AHIMA) Council on Accreditation, the Health Information Technology program prepares graduates with the associates of applied science degree to write the national accreditation examination for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT).

The Health Information Technology program is currently non-accredited.  As documented in the CAHIIM Accreditation System (CAS) Application Process, “a program must not apply until 6 months before the date of the first graduation class.”  

Apply to HIT: Billing and Coding

HIT: Billing and Coding Coursework

Program Goals

The goals of the Health Information Technology program include developing a successful, multi-skilled allied health professional capable of:

  • Organizing and managing health information data
  • Ensuring the maintenance of quality, accurate, accessible, and secure health information in both paper files and electronic systems.
  • Utilizing various classification systems to code and categorize patient information for insurance reimbursement purposes, for databases and registries, and to maintain patients’ medical and treatment histories.
  • Adhering to learning EHR computer software, following EHR security and privacy practices, and analyzing electronic data to improve healthcare information.
  • Developing collaborative and inter-professional soft-skills to successfully work with others to gain additional information to ensure records are complete and accurate.
  • Mastering the student learning outcomes and program outcomes established.

HIT Program Expenses

Prior to Entering Program

  • Criminal Background Check $65 – $80 (MGCCC Campus Police)

Once Admitted into Program

  • General MGCCC Tuition and Fees
  • Career and Technical Program Fee $26 per credit hour
  • Pre-admission Physical Exam and Immunizations $200 – $300
  • Books $500 – $1000 (plus rental fees, if applicable)
  • Substance Testing $29 – $35 per semester
  • Liability Insurance $12 -$15 per semester
  • Additional purchase items, supplies $150 – $200
  • Uniform, Accessories $100 – $150
  • National Board Exam Fees $250 – $500

Costs may be subject to change.