HIM 2620 - Advanced Coding
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 43594,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Amy Zinno
Email: amzinno@ysu.edu
Course Description
2620. Advanced Coding. This course will enable student to sharpen their ICD-10-CM/PCS, and CPT coding skills. Reviewing and practicing code assignment using case studies will enable the student to apply knowledge of the coding systems. Other topics will include MS-DRGs, APCs, RBRVS, and other reimbursement issues. Students will continue to be exposed to common abbreviations, practice encoder software, and utilize the variety of coding resources available. 3 Lecture Hours. Prereq.: HIM 1510 and HIM 2610 with a grade of C or higher. Coreq.: HIM 2625. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | Clinical Coding Workout | AHIMA | ISBN# 9781939635334, e-book ISBN 9781939635341 |
Also Required:
Carter, Darcy & Shaw, Patricia, Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT®) Exam Preparation, Ninth Edition, ISBN: 978-1-58426-872-7, ebook ISBN: 978-1-58426-873-4
2025 CPT Coding Manual, AHIMA, ISBN: 9781640163041 (You should already have this book from HIM2610 ICD-10 Coding)
2025 ICD-10-CM Coding Manual, AHIMA, ISBN: 9781584269861 (You should already have this book from HIM2610 ICD-10 Coding)
2025 ICD-10-PCS Coding Manual, AHIMA, ISBN: 9781584269892 (You should already have this book from HIM2610 ICD-10 Coding)
Refer to the weekly required reading assignments listed in the Learning Materials tab within your course in Blackboard.
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Review the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, including the conventions, general coding guidelines, and Chapter 1 guidelines for sepsis and severe sepsis. Review the CPT guidelines for Evaluation and Management (E/M), Anesthesia, and the applicable body-system sections |
Coding Fundamentals and Sequencing Guidelines A few other options: | Due 8/26 before 11:59:57pm: Week 1 Discussion Board: Severe Sepsis: Sequencing Guidelines and Procedure Coding Due 8/30 before 11:59:31pm: Week 1 Discussion Board: Severe Sepsis: Sequencing Guidelines and Procedure Coding - Reply Due 8/30 at 11:59pm: Week 1 Assignment: Advanced Coding Fundamentals Review |
| 8/31 | Review the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, including the general coding guidelines and Chapter 2 guidelines for neoplasms. Review the applicable ICD-10-CM guidelines for pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn coding. Review CPT guidelines for Evaluation and Management (E/M), Anesthesia, and the applicable body-system sections covered in this week's assignment. Review digestive system anatomy and medical terminology as needed to complete this week's assignment. |
Neoplasm Coding and Diagnosis/Procedure Coding Applications | Due 9/2 before 11:59:55pm: Week 2 Discussion Board: Neoplasm Coding: Primary, Secondary, and Personal History Due 9/6 before 11:59:34pm: Week 2 Discussion Board: Neoplasm Coding: Primary, Secondary, and Personal History - Reply Due 9/6 at 11:59pm: Week 2 Assignment: Diagnosis and Procedure Coding Review |
| 9/7 | Review the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, with emphasis on the guidelines related to neoplasms and diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs. Review the CPT guidelines for Evaluation and Management (E/M), Anesthesia, and the applicable body-system sections covered in this week's assignment. |
Anemia in Neoplastic Disease and Advanced Coding Applications | Due 9/13 before 11:59:05pm: Week 3 Discussion Board: Anemia in Neoplastic Disease - Reply Due 9/13 at 11:59pm: Week 3 Assignment: Advanced Coding Applications |
| 9/14 | Review the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, with emphasis on chapter-specific guidelines, sequencing, combination codes, and the use of instructional notes in the Tabular List. Review the applicable sections of the Clinical Coding Workout book in preparation for the physician-based and ambulatory hospital case studies. |
Obesity, BMI, and ICD-10-CM Coding Applications | Due 9/16 before 11:59:23pm: Week 4 Discussion Board: Obesity, BMI, and Thrombocytopenia Coding Due 9/20 before 11:59:02pm: Week 4 Discussion Board: Obesity, BMI, and Thrombocytopenia Coding - Reply Due 9/20 at 11:59pm: Week 4 Assignment: ICD-10-CM Coding Applications & Case Studies |
| 9/21 | Review the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, with emphasis on the guidelines for mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Review Domain 5: Compliance in the RHIT Exam Review book in preparation for this week's practice exam questions. |
Alcohol-Related Disorders and Coding Compliance | Due 9/23 before 11:59:27pm: Week 5 Discussion Board: Alcohol-Related Disorders: Coding and Sequencing Due 9/27 before 11:59:02pm: Week 5 Discussion Board: Alcohol-Related Disorders: Coding and Sequencing - Reply |
| 9/28 | Review the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, with emphasis on the guidelines for uncertain diagnoses in inpatient and outpatient settings. Review the applicable ICD-10-CM guidelines for diseases of the nervous system, including Parkinson’s disease and related signs and symptoms. Review Domain 4: Revenue Cycle Management in the RHIT Exam Review book in preparation for this week's practice questions. |
Uncertain Diagnoses and Revenue Cycle Management Other options: | Due 9/30 before 11:59:03pm: Week 6 Discussion Board: Uncertain Diagnoses: Parkinson’s Disease Coding Due 10/4 before 11:59:41pm: Week 6 Discussion Board: Uncertain Diagnoses: Parkinson’s Disease Coding - Reply Due 10/4 at 11:59pm: Week 6 Assignment: RHIT Domain 4 Practice Question Review |
| 10/5 | Review the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, with emphasis on the guidelines for diseases of the circulatory system. Review the use of combination codes and additional code requirements for heart failure, chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage, and dialysis status. Continue your review of Domain 4: Revenue Cycle Management in the RHIT Exam Review book |
Hypertension Coding and Revenue Cycle Management | Due 10/7 before 11:59:09pm: Week 7 Discussion Board: Hypertension: Combination Coding and Sequencing Due 10/11 before 11:59:48pm: Week 7 Discussion Board: Hypertension: Combination Coding and Sequencing - Reply Due 10/11 at 11:59pm: Week 7 Assignment: RHIT Domain 4 Practice Question Review – Part 2 |
| 10/12 | Review course materials from Weeks 1–7 in preparation for the Midterm Exam. Review CPT coding guidelines, including Evaluation and Management (E/M), Anesthesia, and applicable procedure coding concepts covered during the first half of the course. |
Midterm Review and Exam | Due 10/18 at 11:59pm: Week 8 Midterm Exam |
| 10/19 | Review the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, with emphasis on diseases of the respiratory system and the coding and sequencing of acute and chronic respiratory failure. Review guidelines related to etiology and manifestation coding, including instructional notes such as Code First and Use Additional Code, and how these instructions affect sequencing. Review ICD-10-PCS guidelines and the use of the Index and Tables to determine the appropriate procedure code. Pay particular attention to identifying the correct root operation, body part, approach, device, and qualifier. |
Respiratory Failure, Sequencing, and ICD-10-PCS Coding | Due 10/21 before 11:59:23pm: Week 9 Discussion Board: Respiratory Failure: Coding and Sequencing Due 10/25 at 11:59pm: Week 9 Discussion Board: Respiratory Failure: Coding and Sequencing - Reply Week 9 Assignment: Chapter 10 Advanced Coding Challenge |
| 10/26 | Review the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, with emphasis on diseases of the digestive system. Review ICD-10-PCS guidelines and the use of the Index and Tables for inpatient procedure coding. |
Digestive System Coding and Healthcare Setting Applications | |
| 11/2 | Review the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, with emphasis on diseases of the genitourinary system. Review ICD-10-PCS guidelines and the use of the Index and Tables for procedures involving the urinary and reproductive systems. |
Genitourinary and Reproductive Coding and Reimbursement | Due 11/1 before 11:59:30pm: Week 10 Discussion Board: Digestive System: Coding Pathways and Sequencing - Reply Due 11/1 at 11:59pm: Week 10 Assignment: Inpatient, Outpatient, & Physician Case Studies |
| 11/9 | Review the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, with emphasis on Chapter 15: Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Puerperium. Review the ICD-10-CM guidelines for inpatient principal diagnosis and secondary diagnosis reporting, including the Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set (UHDDS) definitions. Review Present on Admission (POA) indicators, including when a condition is considered present on admission and the appropriate assignment of POA indicators. Review ICD-10-PCS guidelines applicable to obstetric procedures, including the use of the Obstetrics section and selection of the appropriate root operation, body part, approach, and qualifier. |
Obstetric and Comprehensive Inpatient Coding | Due 11/8 before 11:59:32pm: Week 11 Discussion Board: Genitourinary Disorders: Coding and Sequencing - Reply Due 11/8 at 11:59pm: Week 11 Assignment: Reimbursement Systems in Practice Due 11/11 before 11:59:12pm: Week 12 Discussion Board: Obstetric Coding: Delivery and Sequencing |
| 11/16 | Review the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, with emphasis on Chapter 16: Certain Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period. Review ICD-10-PCS guidelines applicable to procedures performed on newborns Review coding accuracy and auditing concepts, including the identification of coding errors, appropriate code assignment and sequencing, documentation requirements, and the effect of coding errors on reimbursement and data quality. Review the importance of verifying diagnosis and procedure codes against the medical record, applicable coding guidelines, and official coding references when conducting a coding audit. |
Newborn Coding and Coding Accuracy Auditing | Due 11/15 before 11:59:52pm: Week 12 Discussion Board: Obstetric Coding: Delivery and Sequencing - Reply Due 11/15 at 11:59pm: Week 12 Assignment: Comprehensive Inpatient Coding: Applying POA Indicators, Sequencing, and Data Definitions Due 11/18 before 11:59:58pm: Week 13 Discussion Board: Newborn Coding and Sequencing |
| 11/23 | Review the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, with emphasis on Chapter 16: Certain Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period. Review guidelines for congenital conditions and conditions originating in the perinatal period, including the coding of congenital heart defects. Review ICD-10-PCS guidelines applicable to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed during an inpatient admission, including the use of the Index and Tables to determine the appropriate procedure code. Review coding compliance and reimbursement concepts, including coding edits, medical necessity, coordination of benefits, upcoding, unbundling, and Advance Beneficiary Notices (ABNs). |
Newborn Transfer Coding, Compliance, and Reimbursement | Due 11/22 before 11:59:42pm: Week 13 Discussion Board: Newborn Coding and Sequencing - Reply Due 11/22 at 11:59pm: Week 13 Assignment: Coding Accuracy Audit Case Assignment |
| 11/30 | Review the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, with emphasis on principal diagnosis selection, secondary diagnosis reporting, sequencing, and Present on Admission (POA) indicators. Review the Medicare Severity Diagnosis-Related Group (MS-DRG) reimbursement system, including the role of the principal diagnosis, secondary diagnoses, procedures, complications and comorbidities (CCs), and major complications and comorbidities (MCCs) in determining MS-DRG assignment. Review coding and encoder edits, including age, sex, diagnosis/procedure, and other coding edits, and consider how these edits help identify potential coding or data-quality issues. Review POA reporting requirements and the relationship between accurate clinical documentation, code assignment, MS-DRG assignment, and reimbursement. |
Inpatient Coding and MS-DRG Reimbursement Analysis | Due 11/29 before 11:59:26pm: Week 14 Discussion Board: Newborn Transfer Coding and Sequencing - Reply Due 11/29 at 11:59pm: Week 14 Assignment: Coding Compliance, Edits, and Reimbursement |
| 12/7 | Review course learning materials, assignments, discussion boards, and coding exercises from throughout the semester in preparation for the Final Exam. Focus additional study on concepts or coding areas that were challenging on previous assignments, discussion boards, and the Midterm Exam. |
Comprehensive Coding Review and Final Exam | Due 12/6 at 11:59pm: Week 15 Assignment: Inpatient Coding and MS-DRG Reimbursement Analysis Due 12/12 at 11:59pm: Week 16 Final Exam |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.