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Program Overview
Medical Coding Specialists translate written medical documentation, provided by physicians and other health care providers, into a numeric form. The Medical Coding Specialist assigns and sequences diagnostic and procedural codes using universally recognized coding systems, e.g., an anterolateral myocardial infarction (heart attack) is translated to I21.09.
Coded information serves many purposes:
- Reimbursement - codes are printed on the claims submitted to insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid.
- Research - physicians can access medical records for research purposes based on coded information. For example, a physician may request to see the medical records for all patients who were treated for gastric (stomach) ulcers in the past two years. These records would be identified in a computer list of patients with diagnosis codes of K25.0-K25.9.
- Public health - a government or public health agency may use coded diagnostic information to track the occurrence of certain diseases. For example, they may find an increased incidence of a certain type of cancer in a certain region of the country.
- Patient care - a medical device manufacturer may issue a recall on a specific device, such as a pacemaker, and the records of such patients could be identified and retrieved based on the procedure code for pacemaker insertion.
The Medical Coding Specialist technical diploma at Madison College will prepare you for a career in this high-demand field.
Aptitudes and interests that may help you succeed in the Medical Coding Specialist program include:
- Ability to be precise and detail-oriented
- Ability to adhere to standards and guidelines
- Passion for medical information
- Ability to communicate well with others
- Ability to accept challenges and problem-solve
- Respect for confidential information
Program Details
The Medical Coding Specialist Program is offered on a part-time basis only; it will take at least two years to complete the program. Classes are offered in the online format, including optional online-live discussions in some classes. A few classes require students to take proctored final exams on campus or by other arrangements.
Medical Coding Specialist is all online – virtual campus
Careers
The Medical Coding Specialist program will prepare you for entry-level coding specialist positions in health care facilities such as hospitals, managed care organizations, skilled nursing facilities, coding and billing services, physician practice groups, governmental agencies, home health agencies, computer software companies, clinics, consulting firms, insurance companies and veterinary hospitals.
Career Outlook and Salary
The US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment in the health information management field will grow faster than average (11% or more) through 2028.
The 2020 Madison College Graduate Employment Report (six months after graduation) indicates an average annual salary of $41,288 ($19.85/hour) for new graduates of this program.
A 2020 national survey done by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) indicates the average annual wage for certified professional coders (CPC) is $56,164 ($27.00/hour) and for certified outpatient coders (COC) is $61,435 ($29.54/hour). Survey results for Wisconsin show the average annual wage for coding and billing professionals to be $54,601 ($26.25/hours).
A 2019 national survey done by the American Health Information Management Association indicates the average annual salary for a coding professional is $56,164 ($27.00/hour). It also showed those with mastery-level coding credentials (CCS and CCS-P) garnered higher average salaries than those with entry-level coding credential (CCA): CCS $79,060; CCS-P $77,790: CCA $53,790.
As of September 2021, the website salary.com indicates the annual salary range for medical coding specialists in the Madison area is $40,494 - $71,131 ($19.47 - $34.20/hour) with the median salary at $54,230 ($26.07/hour).
Certification Opportunities
There are several certification exams that can be taken to earn national coding credentials. The Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam demonstrates entry-level skills. The other certification exams demonstrate mastery level (experienced) skills. Many employers require certification. Certification may result in a salary increase and/or promotion.
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), ahima.org:
- Certified Coding Associate (CCA)
- Certified Coding Specialist (CCS)
- Certified Coding Specialist - Physician-Based (CCS-P)
American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), aapc.com:
- Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
- Certified Outpatient Coder (COC)
- Certified Inpatient Coder (CIC)
- Certified Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC)
Resources
- Program Handbook (pdf)
- Is Coding Hard? (pdf)
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Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2021-2022 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.
Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:
- Progress toward your specific requirements
- Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements
If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.
Pre-Program CoursesCore Program CoursesCluster 1Cluster 2Cluster 3 -
Admission
To Apply
Students need to complete the petition process to get into core-program classes for this program. Before submitting an application, it’s important to review the Petition Process webpage which also includes estimated wait times for each program.
- View the admission requirements for application deadlines, materials, and requirements
- Attend an Advising, Application, Information & More (AAIM) Session to get started on the admission process
- Visit Us to learn more about the Madison College experience including campus tours and program open houses
After Acceptance
Once you have been accepted in a pre-program status, your next step is to complete the Petition Requirements. See the Petition information in the next section.
Additional Notes
Students will be required to meet the current admission and petition requirements. Requirements must be amended any time accreditation requirements are updated or changed. Requirements may also be amended based on Madison College programmatic assessment data.
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
- View the admission requirements for application deadlines, materials, and requirements
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Petition
After Acceptance
After you have been admitted into a pre-program status, complete all of the Petition Requirements for your program. Login to your student account and run a Degree Progress Report to review the Petition Requirements and see which requirements you have completed and which need to be satisfied.
Requirements vary by program, and may include some or all of the following:
- Prerequisites (examples: Algebra, Geometry, Chemistry, Biology, English and Reading): This varies by program
- Course Requirements (examples: Anatomy and Physiology, Intro to Psychology, etc.): This varies by program
- Testing Requirement (examples: ACT, HESI, TEAS): This varies by program
- Petition Workshop: This is done online and can be found in Blackboard after you have been admitted in a pre-program status
You can view the Petition Requirements for this program using the links below.
After completing the petition requirements, students are then selected for entry into core program courses through the Petition Process.
Questions?
Contact Enrollment Services at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
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Career Outcomes
After completing the Medical Coding Specialist program at Madison Area Technical College, you will be prepared to:
- Collect health data
- Apply coding and reimbursement systems
- Model professional behaviors and ethics
- Use electronic applications to support coding and data collection
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Graduate Summary
Graduate Report Summary Overview
2018 2019 2020 Number of Program Graduates 23 23 30 Number of Surveys Sent 23 23 30 Number of Surveys Returned 14 19 22 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 13 19 21 Percent Available for Employment 92.9% 100.0% 95.5% Not in Labor Market 1 0 1 Percent Not in Labor Market 7.1% 0.0% 4.5% Available for Employment
2018 2019 2020 Graduates Employed 12 15 17 Percent of Graduates Employed 92.3% 78.9% 81.0% Employed in Related Occupation 6 11 12 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 50.0% 73.3% 70.6% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 6 4 5 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 50.0% 26.7% 29.4% Employed - No Response 0 0 0 Percent Employed - No Response 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Seeking Employment 1 4 4 Percent Seeking Employment 7.7% 21.1% 19.0% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2018 2019 2020 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.7 3.4 3.5 Number of Satisfaction Responses 14 19 22 Very Satisfied (4) 10 8 13 Percent Very Satisfied 71.4% 42.1% 59.1% Satisfied (3) 4 10 8 Percent Satisfied 28.6% 52.6% 36.4% Unsatisfied (2) 0 1 1 Percent Unsatisfied 0.0% 5.3% 4.5% Very Unsatisfed (1) 0 0 0 Percent Very Unsatisfied 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2018 2019 2020 Number of Primary Reason Responses 14 19 22 Preparation for Getting a Job 3 6 6 Percent Preparation for Getting a Job 21.4% 31.6% 27.3% Career Change 7 11 15 Percent Career Change 50.0% 57.9% 68.2% Improvement of Existing Skills 3 1 0 Percent Improvement of Existing Skills 21.4% 5.3% 0.0% Preparation for Further Education 1 0 0 Percent Preparation for Further Education 7.1% 0.0% 0.0% Personal Interest 0 1 1 Percent Personal Interest 0.0% 5.3% 4.5% Other 0 0 0 Percent Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% When Employment was Obtained
2018 2019 2020 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 12 15 17 Before Enrollment 6 2 4 Percent Before Enrollment 50.0% 13.3% 23.5% While Attending the College 2 2 4 Percent While Attending the College 16.7% 13.3% 23.5% After Training at the College 4 11 9 Percent After Training at the College 33.3% 73.3% 52.9% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2018 2019 2020 Number of Employment Location Responses 12 15 17 In College District 10 13 12 Percent In College District 83.3% 86.7% 70.6% In Wisconsin, Not in District 2 1 5 Percent of In Wisconsin 16.7% 6.7% 29.4% Outside of Wisconsin 0 1 0 Percent Outside Wisconsin 0.0% 6.7% 0.0% Employer Location Unknown 0 0 0 Percent Location Unknown 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Salary Trend 2018 2019 2020 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 5 9 10 Average Monthly Wage $3,946 $3,086 $3,336 Average Hourly Wage $22.94 $17.94 $19.40 Average Work Hours per Week 41.0 40.5 40.2 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 1 1 2 Average Hourly Wage $12.50 $22.00 $20.30 Average Work Hours per Week 30.0 32.0 26.0 -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2020 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions Associated Physicians Coding Specialist Divine Savior Healthcare Medical Outpatient Coder Portage Exact Sciences Revenue Cycle Inglewood Medical Records Coordinator Mount Horeb SSM Health Coding Assistant SSM Health Billing Specialist University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation Medical Coding Specialist Middleton Upland Hills Health Center Medical Coding Specialist Dodgeville UW Health Hospital & Clinics Medical Coding Specialist 2 UW Medical Foundation Medical Coding Specialist UW Medical Foundation Medical Coding Specialist Middleton * - Only cities outside of Madison will display.
** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.
*** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at jobpostings@madisoncollege.edu