Medical Billing and Coding training has become a well-sought option for many people interested in the Allied Healthcare sector. Medical billing and coding professionals work in the background in medical setups. Although certification isn’t mandatory for this field, getting a training through online medical school will help you stand out from the rest of your competitors. 

Coding and charging are the unsung heroes  of the healthcare  services framework. Without them, the healthcare providers would struggle without having a proper system to get paid for their services. As all healthcare organizations are moving into the digital world, medical billing and coding professionals have become essential to the industry,

In this article, we will talk about this field in detail. We will discuss medical billing and coding training programs and medical billing and coding jobs with training. Apart from this, we shall also be touching upon accredited medical billing and coding training online, so read on to find out!

Medical Billing and Coding Training
Medical Billing and Coding Training

Medical Billing and Coding Training – In Brief

What is Medical Billing? 

Medical billing is the process of processing invoices for the healthcare services provided. These invoices are then given to medical authorities and insurance companies. Medical bills act as a bridge between patients, healthcare service providers, and payers. Without the invoices, reimbursement cannot happen as they are proof of services rendered. 

They are a fundamental process of the medical system. Getting your paperwork done  is important for you to avail of insurance benefits.

What is Medical Coding? 

Medical coding is the process of recording clinical reports into codes. The coding framework helps in reporting the tedious  mind boggling and lumbering clinical records. The codes additionally help with showing the medical treatment and procedures for the patient.

There are many code sets, for example, CPT, ICD, HCPS. 

What does a medical billing and coding technician do?

A coding and billing specialist aids the healthcare facility in managing  insurance claims, invoices, and payments. The work of a medical coding and billing specialist includes:

  • Preparing and sending invoices or claims for payment
  • Properly coding services, procedures, diagnoses, and treatments
  • Correcting rejected claims
  • Tracking payments
  • Following up with patients and insurance companies about outstanding bills

Medical billing and coding training programs

It is important for you to enroll into a program so that you can enter the profession. There are two kinds of medical billing and coding training certification programs. These are- 

  1. AMBA-AMBA is an expert association that is devoted to the clinical charging field. The AMBA has the duty to confirm clinical charging experts through the Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist (CMRS) assessment. 
  2. CMRS test is a thorough test that tests the competitors on various boundaries. This test is exceptionally appraised for conveying superb experts in the clinical charging field. Understudies must have an enrollment of AMBA to take the test. The enrollment of AMBA costs $99 yearly. 

How to choose Medical billing and coding training programs?

You are generally required to undertake training beyond high school, typically through a one-year certificate program or a two-year associate degree for getting a job in this field.

Keep the following points in mind while you are deciding the course you want to enroll in:

  1. Timeline of the Course
    The duration of a course can vary from a one year certification to a two-year associate level-degree. There may also be a shorter intensive certificate course. Nowadays, many courses are also available to enroll online.
  2. Cost of the Training
    Medical billing and coding training cost can vary from $5000 to $8000. Another important thing to note is while some courses have a fixed cost, others may cost on the basis of credits.
    Also, some institutions may charge out-of-students more for their course. So if you want to save money, opt for an online course, or one that is in your home state.
  3. Quality of IT training
    With most healthcare service record processes being digitized, it is important to have good knowledge of information technology relevant to medical billing and coding technician ship.
  4. Accreditation
    Make sure to choose a reputable school that is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation  for Health Informatics and Information Management Education or the American Association of Professional Coders.
Medical coding and billing training
Medical coding and billing training

Medical coding and billing training – Skills required

Eye for Detail

A medical biller and coder must have an eye for detail. Medical billers need to be attentive so that they can find mistakes in bills and correct them. 

While going through the medical coding and billing training be attentive because the medical coder should also be very careful in assessing the codes. One coding mistake can result in a complicated situation, and can also result in the patient getting the wrong treatment.

Customer service

In healthcare management, good customer service is an essential skill to provide the best experience to the patients. You should be able to answer the queries of patients and visitors.

IT Skills

During your medical billing and coding training, you should get relevant knowledge of information technology. Good computer skills are not just required in medical coding but also in medical billing. A medical billing technician must know how to use medical billing software effectively. 

Communication skills

Medical billing and coding is not just a normal desk job. Contrary to popular belief, communication skills do matter a lot here. You should know how to write and present information effectively for optimum understanding of others. 

You should also know how to work in teams with other departments, as this field requires a lot of interaction with doctors and patients.

Knowledge of the human body

Medical billers and coders needs proper medical billing and coding training as they have to rely upon proper medical information about the patient for Insurance purposes. This also involves a basic understanding of how the human body works. They must know about complex terms related to anatomy and physiology.

Understanding the human body is important in reading, understanding, and processing medical paperwork. This knowledge is essential for medical coders to assign codes to different patients and their treatment. 

Analytical skills

Analytical skills are important as you have to go through a lot of data and interpret it on a daily basis. Assessing the situation and taking the right call helps the organizations to prevent chaotic situations, as well as come out of difficult ones. Medical coders and billers have to use their analytical skills in understanding medical records. 

Accredited medical billing and coding training online
Accredited medical billing and coding training online 

Accredited medical billing and coding training online 

It isn’t mandatory for an  individual to get medical billing coding and training  accreditation in this field. In any case, for the individuals who need understanding and have no previous education in the allied healthcare services, accreditation is strongly suggested. One can also check out fully accredited online colleges for more information.

After the discussion on medical billing and coding training, we are going to introduce a definitive  breakdown of the Medical Billing and Coding Certification. 

The AAPC and AHIMA are the main two associations for giving accredited medical billing and coding training online. The different medical coding certifications are:

  • Guaranteed Professional Coder (CPC) 
  • Guaranteed Outpatient Coding (COC) 
  • Guaranteed Inpatient Coder (CIC) 
  • Guaranteed Risk Adjustment Coder (CRC) 
  • Guaranteed Professional Coder-Payer (CRC-P) 
  • Guaranteed Coding Assistant (CCA) 
  • Guaranteed Coding Specialist (CCS) 
  • Guaranteed Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P) 
  • AAPC 

Medical billing and coding jobs with training

Most of the American healthcare centers are completely digitizing their recordkeeping and billing processes. This means more and more opportunities for medical coding and billing technicians. 

The need for healthcare professionals is rising day by day and as a result medical billing and coding training demand is also increasing. The Bureau of Labour and Statistics reports that the medical billing and coding field is expected to grow by 20% between now and 2026.

There will be a plethora of opportunities in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, healthcare centers, etc. Medical billing and coding technicians are also in high demand in Insurance Companies and Government agencies as well. 

There is a lot of scope for upward mobility in this field if you go through your medical billing and coding training programs well. As you gain more experience and enhance your reputation, you might get promoted to the medical administration level. 

The various medical billing and coding jobs with training in this field are:

  • Coding Specialist
  • Cancer Registrar
  • Billing coordinator
  • Patient account representative
  • Medical record technician
  • Billing Coordinator
  • Billing Representative
  • Billing Technician
  • Charge Entry Specialist
  • Coder
  • Coding Technician
  • Documentation Imaging Technician
  • Insurance Biller
  • Reimbursement Coding Specialist
  • Account Billing Specialist
Salaries of Medical Coders and Billers
Salaries of Medical Coders and Billers

Salaries of Medical Coders and Billers

On average, medical coders (certified and non-certified) earn a salary of $54,890. Medical coders without certification earn approximately $42,015 per year while certified professional coders on average earn $55,923 per annum. 

Check out the state wise salaries of Medical Coders and Billers in the table provided below:

State Average Salary Average Hourly Salary
Alabama $49,881 $24.72
Alaska $59,579 $28.64
Arizona $55,785 $26.82
Arkansas $50,520 $25.03
California $68,698 $33.03
Colorado $60,162 $28.92
Connecticut $59,968 $29.72
Delaware $55,049 $26.47
District of Columbia $66,053 $31.76
Florida $54,231 $26.87
Georgia $52,804 $25.39
Hawaii $60,980 $29.32
Idaho $51,375 $25.46
Illinois $55,210 $26.54
Indiana $51,741 $24.88
Iowa $52,152 $25.84
Kansas $53,271 $25.61
Kentucky $51,413 $24.72
Louisiana $49,839 $24.70
Maine $54,003 $25.96
Maryland $59,486 $28.60
Massachusetts $62,148 $30.80
Michigan $52,692 $25.33
Minnesota $57,379 $27.59
Mississippi $46,524 $23.05
Missouri $54,170 $26.04
Montana $47,736 $22.95
Nebraska $54,003 $26.76
Nevada $53,898 $25.91
New Hampshire $57,957 $27.86
New Jersey $63,270 $31.35
New Mexico $52,646 $25.31
New York $61,436 $29.54
North Carolina $55,352 $27.43
North Dakota $54,792 $26.34
Ohio $52,844 $25.41
Oklahoma $50,662 $25.11
Oregon $55,285 $26.58
Pennsylvania $53,457 $25.70
Rhode Island $55,761 $27.63
South Carolina $50,610 $24.33
South Dakota $51,653 $24.83
Tennessee $54,732 $27.12
Texas $57,802 $27.79
U.S. Territory $40,298 $19.37
Utah $55,966 $27.73
Vermont $52,967 $25.46
Virginia $52,001 $25.00
Washington $57,063 $28.28
West Virginia $47,553 $22.86
Wisconsin $55,979 $26.91
Wyoming $54,667 $27.09

So as you can see, different states offer different salaries of Medical Coders and Billers job description. This disparity arises mainly because of the geographical position of the states. The states towards the center of the country, more commonly known as the rustbelt states, offer substantially lower salaries to their professionals. 

This is mainly because at the end of the day, the medical billing and coding training industry is an industry and it too needs to be making profits in order for it to pay its professionals better. Since these states have lower populations, they tend to not be able to generate the same amount of money from their customers. As a result, the billers and coders are also paid less. 

Conversely, the states towards the coasts with metropolitan cities tend to offer higher wages because of the money being generated through treating hordes of more patients. These higher wages can also be attributed to the higher costs of living in these said states and maybe if you account for it, then the salaries are relatively same. 

So, before you start chasing the higher paychecks, do try and consider all of these things before moving around. A lesser paycheck with a substantially lower cost of living is often more desirable than a higher paycheck with extremely high costs of living. So do take a minute and think about it all. 

Medical Coding Jobs – Workload

Now that we have talked about the job opportunities and pay in this field after your medical billing and coding training, you should also know about the workload that you will have to take to make it in the field.  As a newcomer in medical coding jobs when you are starting out, the initial phase is likely to be quite stressful. However, as you grow in this job and learn about its complexities, the stress levels will automatically start to go down. 

Most freshers experience some initial difficulties. These arise due to the adjustment period and understanding the new codes etc.  But as you learn to handle them, the time needed to draw up reports, etc. will go down drastically. Your typing and record entering speed will also increase with more and more practice.

In terms of time, an average medical biller and coder works around 40 hours a week. This number may vary based on the position and location of the job. To get a lay of the land, we would suggest all aspirants take part in some volunteer work. It is the best way to get medical billing and coding training.

This will give them a proper understanding of what goes on and what’s in store. Try not to pass up any temporary job openings if you land those positions. It doesn’t make a difference how much you know if you don’t grab any chances to utilize your knowledge and put it to a practical test. And for any more queries on Medical Billing and Coding Training, feel free to ask us! Also find us on our homepage at onlineschoolsnearme.com.