Medical Billing and Coding as a profession

 So, are you considering a career as a medical biller and/or a medical coder?

These professionals play an important role in the healthcare industry. They enter standard industry codes into electronic health records and billing systems while helping to provide good patient care and ensure the providers are reimbursed for their services efficiently and timely.

Let us go through what a medical biller and coder does? And what kind of training and credentials you may need to become one? We will also walk through the medical billing and coding job outlook for the upcoming years to give you an idea of your employment potential, medical biller and coder job duties. 

Medical billers and coders can work in many different healthcare environments from large hospitals to small private practices. 

They work with patients’ healthcare records ensuring that every diagnosis and procedure is accurately coded. They also confirm that these codes are applied to billing systems, so insurers and patients are correctly invoiced. Any errors in this process could be costly as they may cause insurance companies to reject claims or leave patients to publicly complain about overcharging, that's why it's important for a medical biller and coder to have a good eye for detail. 

Medical billing and coding training jobs in this field often require a post-secondary education though some may accept a high school diploma and relevant work experience. The good news is the medical billing and coding training can be completed in under a year. Students can earn a certificate or diploma in less than twelve months. 

Those who want to enhance their core skills can attain an associate degree in about a year and a half. Training programs in this field typically include courses in several key coding systems, current procedural terminology [CPT], International Classification of Diseases [ICD], in the healthcare common procedure coding systems [HCPCS].

Some employers may prefer to hire candidates who are certified so students might wish to pursue the certified professional coder [CPC] credential from the AAPC. Details can be found at: CPC Exam - Certified Professional Coder - Medical Coding Certification - AAPC. Other certification which is more in demand for inpatient hospital coding careers is Certified Coding Specialist [CCS] credential from AHIMA. Link for more details: Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) | AHIMA

Medical billers usually do not possess certification but there is a Certified Professional Biller [CPB] credential offered by AAPC. Details here: Medical Billing Certification - Certified Professional Biller - CPB Certification (aapc.com) 

Medical billing and coding job outlook: the US Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS] forecasts employment growth for many different occupational fields. Medical billers and coders are classified under medical secretaries from 2018 to 2028. The BLS estimates that employment in these professions will increase 16 percent which is much faster than the average for other occupations. 

If you're wondering what type of jobs you can apply for once you get your certificate, diploma or degree; most medical facilities that diagnose and treat patients have a need for medical billers and coders. According to the BLS, workplaces with high levels of employment in this field include physicians’ offices, hospitals, dentists’ offices, offices of other health care practitioners and outpatient care centers. The BLS also tracks employment by state and reports that the states with the highest level of employment in this field include Texas, California Ohio, Michigan and Massachusetts. 

Knowledge areas and continuing education: Medical billers and coders need to understand how to use the coding systems as we discussed earlier but they also are expected to know other relevant information. 

During your medical billing and coding training you should come away with an understanding of how ethics relate to your role, the importance of accuracy and how medical billing works. Some of the topics you'll study in your courses include the revenue cycle management [RCM], claims processing, medical terminology and records management. 

If you have a certification such as the CPC credential, you are expected to complete continuing education units [CEUs] submitted every two years cycle along with membership charges. There are different ways to earn your required CEU credits, such as; webinars, workshops and online learning through continuing education. You can grow and evolve to better serve both the professionals and patients as they will come into contact with in your role. 

Once you gain work experience in your medical billing and coding career you may wish to further education to help position you for senior level and leadership roles such as medical billing and coding manager or office manager. 

The BLS reports that employment of medical and health services managers will grow 20% between 2018 and 2028. You can prepare for management roles while continuing to work full-time as a medical biller and coder by enrolling in an online healthcare management degree program. You can earn an associate degree online in about a year and a half or continue on to earn a bachelor's or master's degree. If you're ready for a career change and want to work in the healthcare field, consider working as a medical biller and coder. You can make a difference in the lives of patients by ensuring they are billed correctly for medical procedures.

I hope that you find this helpful. Let’s discuss further about the medical billing and coding profession in future blogs. Please do share your ideas and suggestions if you would need any specific guidance or help related to the medical billing and coding field.