Medical Coding Program to receive $1.2M grant for West Tennessee students

The Jackson State Community College (JSCC) Medical Coding Program has been awarded a $1.2 million grant through the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Delta Region Rural Health Workforce Training Program, supplying training, scholarships, and support to students in West Tennessee. Approximately 60 percent of the grant will directly benefit students with the remaining funds covering administrative and program enhancements.

The HRSA Delta Region Rural Health Workforce Training Program grant focuses on improving healthcare delivery in rural areas by training future and current healthcare professionals for high-quality, good-paying jobs in rural counties. The grant outlines critical needs for administrative support professions in areas such as medical coding and billing, insurance claims processing, and health information management.

"We are seeing a growing need throughout West Tennessee as well as the country for healthcare administrative professionals," said Health Sciences Program Director and Assistant Professor Chrystal Taylor, "Vital positions, such as medical coders, assist facilities, doctors, and patients by ensuring proper enrollment in healthcare plans as well as ensuring medical claims are submitted and processed efficiently."

Scholarships from the grant funding will cover tuition, program fees, books, certification exam fees, and a stipend for additional educational expenses for upwards of 90 students over the four-year grant period.

Strategic community partners of the grant include Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, Rural Health Association of Tennessee, and the Southwest/Northwest Tennessee Workforce Board. These partnerships will aid students in recruitment, formal training, social needs, and job placement.

"Skilled administrative support professionals are key to any profession, and the healthcare industry is no different," said Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Jennifer Lopes. "These professionals are essential to viable and accessible healthcare in our rural areas throughout West Tennessee. Supplying the proper training and education for these positions reinforces a hospital's mission to serve and improve healthcare accessibility. This grant will supply the necessary funding for our students to receive the education they need to thrive in these positions and fill a critical need in underserved areas."

The grant period will run from Sept. 1, 2022, through Aug. 30, 2026.

If you are interested in applying to the Medical Coding Program, please contact Chrystal Taylor at ctaylor2@jscc.edu

For more information on the Medical Coding Program, go to jscc.edu/mc 

This program is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,204,591 with zero percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.