ITEM 126-302-R0305
March 17-18, 2005
ITEM 126-302-R0305 Authorization to Establish a Certificate in Medical Coding; Flathead Valley Community College (FVCC)
THAT: The Board of Regents of Higher Education authorizes Flathead Valley Community College to establish a Certificate in Medical Coding.
EXPLANATION: Flathead Valley Community College seeks approval from The Montana Board of Regents to convert the currently approved Level I Medical Coding Certificate program to an approved Level II Certificate program. Students in this program are trained to transform verbal descriptions of diseases, injuries and procedures into alphanumeric designations or codes. This coding is used to classify mortality on death certificates, claims for reimbursement, evaluation on the outcomes of healthcare and quality management in a health care institution. FVCC's program focuses on developing skills so that individuals can achieve maximum success in the profession. Salaries for graduates range from $25,000 to $40,000. FVCC's program provides an opportunity for employment for place-bound individuals in rural locations through online employment. The proposed certificate utilizes primarily existing curriculum and staff.