Coding (CERT2)

• The Health Information Technology Program offers students two levels of completion. The Health Information Technology (HIT) associate of applied science degree is designed to prepare graduates for entry level employment as health information technicians. A certificate in coding prepares the technician to assign a code to a medical diagnosis or procedure.
• Program Highlights
• The HIT program provides students with online classes as well as Virtual Practicums when available. The faculty bring current real-world experiences from the Clinical settings across the US. They are required to maintain professional credentials to teach in a CAHIIM (Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management) Accredited Program. The dedication and commitment to excellence in teaching and learning is unparalleled.
• Credentials and Careers
• The curriculum is comprised of a 1-year certificate in Health Information Coding which stacks into a 2-year Associate of Applied Degree (AAS) in Health Information Technology.
• Graduates may be employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, health maintenance organizations, outpatient and long-term care facilities, insurance companies, vendor software companies, and any other organization that has a need to maintain and manage health information.
• Transferability
• General education courses (Core) are designated for easy transfer to Texas public institutions and applicable to requirements at private and out-of-state institutions.
• Technical coursework may be transferable to other institutions.
• Please consult with a program advisor for more information about transferability.

• To be part of the program, students must be at college-level placement in reading, writing, and math.
• Complete a Lone Star College admissions online application and ensure all requirements for admission are met. To do so, please visit the Lone Star College admissions page LoneStar.edu/admissions .
• Review the Statement of Student Responsibility. The student is required to sign and comply with this statement each semester while attending classes at Lone Star College.
• REQUEST OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS from all previously attended colleges and/or universities. Send to: Lone Star College-North Harris Attention: Admissions 2700 W. W. Thorne Drive, Ste. 109 Houston, TX 77073 Transcripts must be on file with Admissions prior to admission to the HIT program. Note: Effective Fall 2012 for all Health Occupations Programs, Math placement scores on Compass, ASSET, Accuplacer, and THEA will be valid for three (3) years.
• Submit a program application available online at http://www.lonestar.edu/health-info-tech-requirements.htm
• The applicant seeking admission into the Health Information Technology AAS degree program must successfully complete the background check. A drug screening may also be required based on terms of our clinical affiliation agreement. The applicant must cover the cost of the background check.
• The applicant must cover the cost of a drug screen, if required by clinical affiliates.
• The applicant must cover the cost of the any immunizations required by clinical affiliates. Documentation of vaccinations and negative tuberculosis test results are required.
• For more information, please see the HIT department webpage: https://www.lonestar.edu/health-info-tech-requirements.htm

• This award requires 36 credit hours in total.
• Lone Star College reports 880 contact hours for this award.
• Where the course list shows "Choose N credit hours", those courses are the options for one elective slot, not additional requirements.

• Apply clinical vocabularies and terminologies used in the organization's health information.
• Apply policies and procedures for the use of data required in healthcare reimbursement.
• Apply the fundamentals of team leadership.
• Apply all coding rules and principles for case summaries and medical records.
• Analyze records to evaluate compliance with regulations and standards.
• Understand the importance of healthcare policy-making as it relates to health care delivery systems
• Apply procedure codes using CPT and HCPCS
• Identify the use of legal documents.
• Comprehend basic descriptive institutional and healthcare vital statistics.
• Apply diagnosis and procedure codes using ICD-10 CM/PCS
• Apply policies and procedures to the use of networks, including intranet and internet applications to facilitate the electronic health record, personal health record, public health record and other administrative applications.

• Tuition shown is the in-district rate of $111.00 per credit hour for 36 credit hours.
• Out-of-district Texas residents pay $249.00 per credit hour ($8,964.00); international and out-of-state students pay $313.00 per credit hour ($11,268.00).
• Lab fees vary by course and liability insurance, uniforms and supplies vary by program, so Lone Star College publishes no all-in total for this award. Tuition above excludes them.
• Financial aid and payment plans are available to most students.
• Application fee: none. Lone Star College applications are free.

• Program accreditation allows AAS degree graduates to apply for certification examination to become Registered Health Information Technicians (RHIT).
• Coding certificate graduates are eligible to apply for the certification examination to become a Certified Coding Associate (CCA) and Certified Professional Coder (CPC).

• The criminal background check must be performed by an approved college vendor. Applicants must cover the cost of the background check, immunizations, and drug screen, if required by clinical affiliates. Clinical affiliates determine what constitutes an unacceptable background check. The student is responsible for working with the background check company to clear up any reporting discrepancies. Students cannot begin program coursework until the background check process is satisfactorily completed. Students are responsible for completing the background application process, paying all associated fees, and ensuring that a copy is submitted to the clinical coordinator.
• A criminal background check is not required to become a Certified Coding Associate, however most employers conduct criminal background checks.

• The associate of applied science degree program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education.
• The Coding Certificate is approved by the AHIMA Academic Affairs Professional Certificate Approval Program (PCAP). The PCAP approval identifies coding education programs which have been evaluated by a peer review process against national minimum standards for entry-level coding professionals. This process allows academic institutions, healthcare organizations, and private companies to be acknowledged as providing an approved coding certificate program.

The Student Success Course, EDUC 1300 Learning Framework, is satisfied through successful completion of HITT 1301 - Health Data Content and Structure.