Health Information Management, Billing, and Coding Associate Degree
Earning an associate degree in health information management, billing, and coding (HIMBC) can prepare you for a career in a medical office. Blue Cliff College’s associate of occupational studies (AOS) in HIMBC covers not only the skills you need to excel in an entry-level career, but also a broader base of education that can be helpful as you advance in your job function or consider a bachelor’s degree.
Health information management, billing and coding (HIMBC) is a far-reaching career field with professionals filling all sorts of medical office roles.
Gaining education beyond a diploma in the form of an associate degree in HIMBC may make you eligible for even more positions in a healthcare office. Some skills you can offer to potential employers include the following, and much more:
- Medical billing and coding
- Communicating with health insurance companies
- Billing and reimbursing patients
- Data analysis to improve patient care
- Providing documentation for legal actions
How Long Is the Online HIMBC AOS Degree Program?
Our HIMBC associate degree program includes 99 credits, which takes about 19.5 months to complete.
If you have completed an HIMBC or Clinical Medical Assisting diploma program, you may be able to transfer your credits into this associate degree program. How many credits you can transfer to your HIMBC AOS program partly depends on what type of diploma you have and what institution you attended:
| Type of Diploma | Max Transfer Credits | Remaining Credits |
|---|---|---|
|
Blue Cliff College – CMA |
20 |
79 |
|
Blue Cliff College – HIMBC |
65 |
34 |
|
Outside Institution – Billing and Coding |
49 |
50 |
Contact our Admissions office for more information about transferring credits into the HIMBC AOS program and how much time you may spend in school.
Online HIMBC Associate (AOS) Degree Program Curriculum
Similar to the HIMBC diploma programs at Blue Cliff College, you’ll learn a wide range of topics that prepare you for a billing-and-coding focused administrative role in a medical office. These applied topics include:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Medical terminology and administrative procedures
- Introductory topics in health information management and data management, including security and privacy
- Medical billing and coding
- Electronic health records
- Medical forms and insurance
The HIMBC Associate of Occupational Studies program at Blue Cliff College expands upon the online HIMBC diploma program’s curriculum by offering advanced and additional coursework. Some of the additional topics found in the associate degree program include:
- Math: Health statistics, business math
- Business: Quality assurance, principles of management, oral and written communication
- Healthcare information management: Health information research, chart auditing
HIMBC AOS students also complete a capstone project that prepares them for the HIMBC certification exam. This combines direct test preparation and practice in medical records coding.
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Online HIMBC Associate Degree Program Requirements
When you apply to the HIMBC AOS program, you need to meet certain expectations:
- Be 17 or older
- Have graduated high school or the equivalent
- Provide college transcripts if you have any
- Disclose any felony convictions
- Tell us about how you plan to pay for the program
- Pass the Wonderlic exam with a minimum score of 15
- Earn at least 60% on the SmarterMeasure assessment
- Complete the Student Success Course
- Meet all technical requirements for online students
- Accept our catalog and review the details of the HIMBC AOS program
- Be physically able to work in HIMBC
- Talk to an admissions representative
If you plan to transfer credits, be ready to discuss those with the admissions rep.
Online HIMBC Associate Degree Program Costs
If you don’t transfer any credits, the HIMBC associate degree program costs $39,133 as of the 2024-2025 school year. This includes tuition, fees, and a laptop.
Any credits you transfer into the program can affect how much you can expect to pay.
Financial Aid at Blue Cliff College
Blue Cliff College students may be eligible for federal financial aid, veterans assistance, or the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarship. When you talk to a financial aid representative, you can discuss these options and more.
Why Choose Blue Cliff College for an HIMBC Associate Degree?
Blue Cliff College strives to help students in school and beyond. Because of this, we offer a variety of student services and resources both on- and off-campus.
Work-life balance is essential, so the HIMBC AOS online program is available anytime, anywhere, with no set meeting times. However, your professors will have office hours to support you. We also have resources for students who need assistance with daily life needs.
Licensing and Accreditation
Blue Cliff College maintains current certification and accreditation so you know you’re learning skills that are valued in your field. We are:
- Licensed by the Mississippi Commission on Proprietary School and College Registration. Certificate No. C-736
- Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)‡
‡The Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, (ACCSC) is a recognized accrediting agency by the US Department of Education.
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