Medical and Billing Coding

Also Called: Medical Coder

Job Description

Medical billing and coding careers require a great amount of determination, dedication and effort. Moreover, professionals working in the medical billing and coding field must also be flexible, versatile and adaptable. Since they are commonly tasked to handle highly sensitive patient information, they have to strictly adhere to the patient confidentiality laws.

There is a common misconception that medical billers and coders are the same. But the truth is they are not. You have to understand that medical billers function differently from medical coders. Technically, medical billers are tasked to process billing information and submit reimbursement claims to insurance companies. They handle all tasks related to the billing process. On the other hand, medical coders assign codes to every diagnostic tests and medical diseases. This is done so that medical billers can easily charge the patient with the due payments. Although their job description may not be closely similar, medical billing and coding specialists must collaborate together in order to perform billing and insurance related tasks more efficiently.

Work Environment

Medical billing and coding professionals are usually employed in a healthcare facility or an agency setting. Full-time medical billing and coding professionals work 40-hours a week, from Monday to Friday, with occasional paid overtime. They also enjoy benefit packages hat include paid vacation, medical insurance, and retirement savings plan.

Medical billing and coding professionals may also opt to work part-time or they can make special arrangements with their employers so they can do their jobs at home. Work setup greatly varies depending on the preference of the employer.

Programs to Consider:

Education and Training Requirements

Medical billing and coding aspirants can choose from a variety of certificate and diploma programs, which can be completed within nine months to one year. Medical billing and coding aspirants who want to learn the basics should enroll in a 2-year Associate degree program, while those who want to undergo a more extensive training must pursue a 4-year Bachelor's degree. As for those who have time constraints, they can choose to enroll in an online medical billing and coding course program.

It is highly advised that medical billing and coding aspirants acquire their training from credible schools to ensure quality education. And most importantly, they have to gain relevant experiences to have more chances of finding good career opportunities.

Salary Range

Annual earnings of medical billing and coding professionals are typically influenced by a number of factors including:

• geographical location
• level of expertise
• years of experience
• certifications and educational background

Majority of medical billing and coding professionals earn around $35,999 - $44,562 yearly. Meanwhile, those who have pursued a continuing studies program and have gained relevant experiences will surely increase their earning potential.

Job Outlook:

Employment rate of medical billing and coding professionals are anticipated to increase by 18% until 2016. This significant growth will be prompted by the increasing demand for insurance claims and effective bill processing.

So, start your training today by sifting through our extensive list of medical billing and coding schools and carefully choose the program that suits you the best!