Medical Billing and Coding Career

Why Choose a Medical Billing and Coding Career?

The Job of the Future

A medical billing and coding career offers the opportunity to work in a medical office, clinic, hospital and insurance firm, or work from home, making important contributions to the delivery of quality healthcare. Advancement opportunities in health information technology continue to improve and the medical billing and coding career is among the fastest growing fields.

Those working in a medical billing and coding career (often called health information technicians) can utilize their skills in a variety of healthcare facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, medical group practices, clinics and home health agencies. Other settings that may employ health information technicians are insurance firms, public health departments, government agencies and educational institutions. Some job opportunities also exist for home employment when you choose a medical billing and coding career.

Medical Billing vs. Medical Coding

Depending on the size of the facility, billing and coding can be the job of one person or it may be distinguished as two separate jobs.

Medical Billing Jobs

The job of the medical biller entails knowing the methods of billing patients, understanding various collection methods, completing medical claims forms, and coding. Medical billers must know how to explain charges and communicate effectively with patients and insurance companies.

Medical Coding Jobs

Medical coders assign a code to each diagnosis and procedure on claim forms that are submitted to health insurance companies. Codes exist for all types of medical encounters, services, tests, treatments, and procedures provided in a medical office, clinic, or hospital. Classification manuals and software programs assist medical coders in doing their jobs efficiently.

Employment Outlook in Medical Billing and Coding

As insurance and governmental regulations become more complex and the U.S. population ages, the demand for workers entering the medical billing and coding career continues to rise. Health information technology is one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States. The medical billing and coding career field is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2020, due to rapid growth in the number of medical tests, treatments, and procedures which will be increasingly scrutinized by third-party payers, regulators, courts and consumers.

What You Can Earn Working in the Medical Billing and Coding Career Field

Many factors are considered when calculating salary for the medical billing and coding career, such as where you live, your job title, education level and years of job experience. Becoming certified in your field can add to your career value and increase your salary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, those working in a medical billing and coding career earned up to $53,430 annually, with the middle 50 percent earning as high as $32,350.

(U.S. Dept. of Labor Statistics, 2012-2013 Occupational Outlook Handbook)

Certification

Blackstone Medical Billing and Coding graduates are qualified to sit for the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) exam administered by the American Health Information Management Association, as well as the Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS) exam from the American Medical Billing Association. After gaining work experience, graduates can take the American Academy of Professional Coders’ Certified Professional Coder (CPC) exam. Becoming certified in your field can lead to a higher salary and more advancement opportunities in the medical billing and coding career.