Health Information Technology: Billing and Coding
Harrison County Campus / Hybrid
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.” The first HIT graduating class will be determined during acceptance of the inaugural cohort.
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.