Appointments must be scheduled.
Instructor will be checking course 3 times a day.
If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.
Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.
If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.
As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc
The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.
Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016
Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.
NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.
The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students. If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .
HITT-1342-001 Ambulatory Coding
Fundamentals of ambulatory coding rules, conventions and guidelines.
Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website
Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:
Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:
Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me
You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.
(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)
On Campus Course
CPT Coding Manual, American Medical Association, 2021
Deciphering Procedural Coding, 2018; Ruth A. Berger & Sharon Y. McBride, Paradigm Publisher
Textbooks, Current Coding Manual, Paper, Pencils,Computer with quality Internet Provider
End-of-Course Outcomes: Apply nomenclatures and classification systems and assign codes.
COURSE OBJECTIVE:
This course is designed to provide the student with a uniform language that accurately describes medical, surgical, and diagnostic services which will serve an effective means for reliable nationwide communication among physicians, patients, and third party payers.
COURSE GOALS:
Given the course textbooks, workbooks, personal notes, and handouts, the student should have a comprehensive grasp of CPT coding techniques. Beginning with a very basic overview, history of the coding system, and covering the AMA's CPT manual from beginning to end to provide optimal insurance reimbursement for the physician and patient. The student will also be able to communicate more effectively with health care providers and third party payers.
COURSE COMPETENCIES:
Upon completion of the following chapters, the student will be able to do the folliwing with at least 70% accuracy as evaluated by the faculty in the program:
• Develop an understanding of the reasons for coding for prospective payment. This is the form of reimbursement by Medicare & Medicaid for physician's office.
• Recognize the importance of the medical record & the physician's documentation for coding purposes.
• Cite the importance of modifiers with CPT coding.
• CPT code by individual physician specialities - look at each section for specific problems.
• Discuss coding for prospective payment - the advantages & the disadvantages.
• Caution coders to the specific areas that may surface on DRG (Diagnosis Related Groupings) validation review.
• Look at the functions of Quality Assurance & Utilization Review within a hospital/clinical setting.
• Offer worksheets for guided practice in sequencing & coding discharge summary information.
• Develop a further understanding of diagnosis related groups by coding the examples listed in this test & achieving a 95% accuracy upon coding completion.
• The knowledge gained from coding for prospective payment can be applied to any reimbursement setting. The student upon completion of this course should have a thorough knowledge of the basics of coding, sequencing & of working with DRG's.
• Discuss HCPCS coding system & how it influences reimbursement.
• RBRVS & other physician reimbursement reforms. Current Federal Register.
In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .
If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".
POLICY FOR STUDENTS REQUIRING THEA REMEDIATION:
Students that have been identified for THEA-required remediation must, according to Texas State Law, participate
continuously in their THEA-remediation courses or they will be withdrawn for ALL course work, including the AH courses, through anadministrative withdrawal for THEA non-compliance. If you have any questions about THEA-remediation, please call the Advising and Counseling Center at 371-5440.
WITHDRAWING FROM A COURSE:
It is the responsibility of the student to officially drop or withdraw from a course. Failure to officially withdraw may result in the student receiving a grade of “F” in the course. The student may obtain a withdrawal form from his academic advisor, the counseling center or from the registrar’s office. It is also the responsibility of the student to take the drop slip to the registrar’s office in order for the student to be officially dropped from a course. Students are not automatically dropped from their class roles as a result on non-attendance.
STUDENT GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE:
A student who has a problem with the course or the course instructor should make every attempt to resolve the problem with the course instructor. If that is not successful, the student may appeal the decision of the instructor to the Program Director, the Associate Dean of Health Sciences, Kim Boyd, 359-6060, the Dean of the Health Sciences Division, Kim Crowley, 354-6087, the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Becky Burton, 371-5122, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Tamara Clunis, 371-5226 and the President -- IN THAT ORDER. Please refer to the current Amarillo College catalog for complete explanation of the grievance procedures.
CELLULAR TELEPHONES AND PAGERS:
Pagers and telephones are disruptive during class time. Telephones must be turned off during class time with the exception of emergency personnel, pagers must either be turned off or set on vibrate during class time. Please notify me in writing if you fall in this category, otherwise failure to comply will result in you being asked to leave class for that day. You will still be responsible for the material covered in class. If you feel that you will have an emergency during class time, leave the number of the student services office and they will contact you immediately. The number is 371-5300.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
Academic dishonesty shall constitute a violation of the college rules & regulations & is punishable as prescribed by Amarillo College Board policies. Academic dishonesty shall include, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. “Cheating on a test” shall include:
“Plagiarism”shall be defined as the appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another’s work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one’s own written work.
“Collusion” shall be defined as the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of course requirements.
QUIZZES:
Quizzes will be given at the discretion of the instructor.
Quizzes may or may not be announced by the instructor.
Material covered by these quizzes will consist of review material or new material assigned in class.
Quizzes may be given orally, fill in the blank, matching, crossword puzzles, take-home, group, and online.
There will be a minimum of 8 - 12 quizzes.
• Some quizzes will be administered as take-home. You must be in class to receive the quiz & you must be in class to grade the quiz in order for the grade to count.
The student must attend the entire class in order to have the quiz grade count.
In other words the student can not drop by class, pick up the quiz and leave.
If you are not in class to grade your quiz, you will receive a grade of zero (0).
You may not turn take-home quizzes in early or late.
IF A QUIZ IS MISSED, THERE WILL BE NO MAKEUP QUIZZES.
If a student arrives late to class, while a quiz is in progress, she/he will NOT be given extra time to complete the quiz.
If a student arrives late to class after a quiz has been given, he/she will not be allowed to take the quiz.
Quizzes given online will open @ 6:00 pm on the assigned date.
Online quizzes will CLOSE on the Due Date @ 11:59 pm.
Quizzes will be worth 10% of your FINAL GRADE.
No quiz grades will be dropped.
HOMEWORK/PARTICIPATION:
All homework assignments are due at the beginning of class.
Homework assignments may be graded in class at the beginning of class.
Any homework assignment that is not turned in on the due date will receive a 20% deduction for the grade.
Late homework assignments will be accepted, however, late homework must be turned into the instructor's office within 24 hours.
Late homework will receive a 20% deduction for the grade.
Any homework assignment that is turned in after the 48 hours deadline or not turned into the instructor will be recorded as a zero for the grade. Homework and Participation will be recorded in the quiz category.
MAJOR EXAMS:
Exams will be announced during class at least a week in advance of the exam date. Major exams will be given in four (4) types of format. Scan-tron, fill-in-the-blank, and/or take-home exams or online.
Major Exams that are considered take-home exams will be treated as the other major exams that are given during class time.
Take-home exams are due at the beginning of class. If you are not in class on the day a take-home exam is handed out, you will be able to makeup this exam, however, the exam will be considered LATE.
There will be a 20% deduction from the exam grade, regardless of the reason for missing class that day.
If a take-home exam is due and you are unable to attend class, it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to make arrangements for the exam to be delivered to me no later than 5:00 pm on the date due.
No take-home exams will be accepted after the due date. The take-home exam will still be considered LATE therefore, the 20% deduction will be enforced.
Online Exams will OPEN @ 6:00pm and will CLOSE @ 11:59pm on the assigned dates.
Exams dates will be posted to the Announcement Page, email and AC Online calendar of this course.
Students with questions regarding examination results may review examinations, under the supervision of the MDS faculty, by appointment only.
Students who feel that a question was scored improperly must submit the following to the appropriate instructor, in writing.
• The exam question and the reason for requesting an instructor review of the score.
• The page and paragraph number, in the student's textbook or lecture notes, that verifies that the student's answer is correct. Other sources of information, such as textbooks that have not been assigned, will not be considered.
The request must be submitted within one (1) calendar week after the instructor notifies the student of the grade. The student will be notified within one (1)calendar week if the points have or have not been awarded. Exam questions from an exam given more than one (1) week previously will not be considered.
Exams will be worth differing numbers of points (which is a different total each semester). The letter grade is calculated by dividing the number of points earned on an exam by the total number of points possible on an exam. That percentage obtained will then be applied to the grade scale listed below:
MAJOR EXAMS WILL BE WORTH 50% OF YOUR FINAL GRADE.
MAKE-UP EXAMS:
A student who misses a major exam regardless of the reason(s) for missing the exam, must contact the instructor within 48 hours. The make-up exam will be scheduled at the convenience of the instructor. The student should keep in mind that he/she will receive a 20% deduction for taking an exam after the exam was originally administered. Any student who does not contact the instructor within the specified 48 hours will not be permitted to make up the missed exam. Any student that does not make up a missed exam will receive a grade of zero (0) for that exam. There are no exceptions.
• The department has an answer machine with a date and time stamp. If the 48 hour time frame occurs on a weekend the student should call the department number (806) 354-6068 and leave a message or you may contact me by e-mail at jemassie@actx.edu in order to comply with the 48 hour rule.
• If the student is unable to contact the instructor or the office, it is his/her responsibility to designate someone else who can do this for them.
• All make-up exams, with the exception of a take-home exam, will be given in the Testing Center on the Washington Street Campus.
The Testing Center is located in the Student Service Center, north of the Ware Student Commons.
All makeup exams will be graded at the convenience of the instructor. Please remember to bring your I.D. with you. Your exam will not be administered without the proper identification.
Please contact the testing center personnel on the date you wish to take your make-up exam, in order to ensure that your make-up exam is available.
*** Makeup exams will not be given out the last hour before closing.
• HOURS FOR THE TESTING CENTER. Telephone number is 371-5445
Monday-Thursday 8:00 A.M. - 7:30 P.M.
Friday 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
It is the sole responsibility of the student who has been absent to arrange with the instructor to makeup any missed exams. When the student returns to class after an absence, the student will be expected to fully participate in any class activities including quizzes or exams.
Mandatory Tutoring : In an effort to increase retention in MDS courses, any student who scores below a 70 on any exam (excluding the Final Exam week) must complete a mandatory tutoring assignment before taking the next exam. Before receiving a skills assignment, students must first schedule a time with the instructor. The assignment will be given at that time. THIS IS MANDATORY.
FINAL EXAM:
You will have a COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM.
THE FINAL EXAM IS WORTH 25% OF YOUR FINAL GRADE.
If the STUDENT misses the designated time for the FINAL EXAM, a grade of zero (0) will be given for the exam, unless an incomplete has been granted.
Arrangements to receive an incomplete "I" grade for the course must be made prior to the date of the final exam.
Incompletes are granted only for emergency situations such as hospitalization of the student, serious injury to the student on the day of the final exam, etc.
Incompletes will not be granted for situations involving vacation plans, transportation difficulties, appointments, etc. Students who need to request an incomplete must do so prior to the scheduled time of the final exam with appropriate documentation given to the instructor.
Final grades will not be rounded in this course.
GRADING SUMMARY:
Attendance 15% of your final grade.
Daily quizzes 10% of your final grade.
Major Exams 50% of your final grade.
Comp. Final 25% of your final grade.
100%
GRADE SCALE:
A = 90.0 - 100.0%
B = 80.0 - 89.9%
C = 70.0 - 79.9%
F = 69.0% or less
Attendance will be taken at the beginning of all class meetings.
100 points will be given to all students who arrive on time to class and who stay for the entire class period.
Students who arrive late or leave early, regardless of the reason, will be awarded only 50 points.
In order to receive any credit for attendance the student must not be more than 20 minutes late or leave class more than 20 minutes early.
Attendance will be worth 15% of your final grade.
Calendar is subject to change:
Week 1 - Jan. 25th
Ch. 1 Introduction to Coding
Ch. 2 Getting to Know CPT
Ch. 3 HCPCS Coding
Week 2 - Feb. 1st Continue lecture
Class participation
Week 3 - Feb. 8th
Ch. 4 Principles of Coding & the Use of Modifiers
Ch. 5 Using the Health Record to Report Codes
Class participation
Feb. 9th Exam 1 OPENS @ 6:00pm
Feb. 13th Exam 1 CLOSES @ 11:59pm
Week 4 - Feb. 15th
Ch. 6 Evaluation and Management & Class participation
Week 5 - Feb. 22nd
Ch. 6 Evaluation and Management Continued & Class participation
Feb. 23rd Exam 2 OPENS @ 6:00pm
Feb. 27th Exam 2 CLOSES @ 11:59pm
Week 5 - Feb. 22nd
Ch. 6 Evaluation and Management Continued & Class participation
Week 6 - Mar. 1st
Ch. 7 Anesthesia Coding & Class participation
Week 7 - Mar. 8th
Ch. 7 Anesthesia continued & Class participation
Ch. 8 Introduction to Surgery Coding
Week 8 - March 22nd
Chapters 9-17 Surgery Continued & Class participation
Mar. 23rd Exam 3 OPENS @ 6:00pm
Mar. 27th Exam 3 CLOSES @ 11:59pm
Week 9 - March 29th
Chapters 9-17 Surgery Continued & Class participation
Week 10 - April 5th
Chapters 9-17 Surgery Continued & Class participation
Ch. 18 Radiology Coding & Class participation
Week 11 - April 12th
Ch. 18 Radiology continued
Ch. 19 Pathology & Laboratory coding & Class participation
Week 12 - April 19th
Ch. 20 Medicine Coding & Class participation
Apr. 20th Exam 4 OPENS @ 6:00pm
Apr. 24th Exam 4 CLOSES @ 11:59pm
Week 13 - April 26th
Ch. 20 Medicine Continued & Class participation
Week 14 - May 3rd
Ch. 20 Medicine Continued & Class participation
May 4th Exam 5 OPENS @ 6:00pm
May 8th Exam 5 CLOSES @ 11:59pm
May 10th Final Exam Scenarios - Class 9:00am
May 10th Final Exam Theory Online OPENS 6:00pm
May 13th Final Exam Theory Online CLOSES 9:00pm
Jan. 25, 2021 First day of class
Mar. 15-19, 2021 Spring Break
Apr. 22, 2021 Last day to withdraw/drop from class
May 10-13, 2021 Final Exam
HELP: General Questions
You may email askAC@actx.edu or you may call (806) 371-5000.
HOURS: AskAC
Monday through Thursday 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
Fridays 7:00 am to 5:00 pm Summer closes 5:00 pm
Closed Saturday, Sunday, and Holidays
HELP:
Student Help Center: 371-5992
The Student Help Center provides Amarillo College Students with technical assistance.
If a student needs to update their computer or check for viruses, the center will provide these services FREE OF CHARGE to AC Students.
Your instructor highly recommends that students take advantage of these services!
Location: Washington Street Campus, Ware Student Commons - The Underground (Basement)
Hours:
Monday - Thursday 7:00am to 9:00pm
Friday 7:00 am to 4:00 pm
Sunday 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
**LAST DAY TO DROP OR WITHDRAW FROM A COURSE: April 22nd
01/24/21 9:08 PM
01/24/21 9:56 PM