How to Become a Medical Biller and Coder

Critical Role In Healthcare

In the age of technology, every industry creates large quantities of data and the accuracy of the data is of great importance. The Healthcare industry is no different.

In the healthcare industry, the data generated is handled by medical billing and coding specialists who keep all of this data organized by assigning standardized labels for medical procedures and diagnoses. Since it is medical data, its importance is far greater than any other data and so the job of a medical coding and billing specialist becomes even more important.

So for example, as a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, you might work for a physician’s office and a patient comes in with a broken arm requiring x-rays.

After getting the patient and physician records, you would be able to assign the appropriate code and then submit that paperwork to their insurance company correctly so the insurance would pay for the patient’s procedure.

This profession is a crucial part of our healthcare system with demand for these specialists as a result!

1. No Prior Experience is Needed

To get started in this career, you don’t need any prior experience or degree to begin your certification program – you could start a career in medical billing and coding in just 6 months. Most medical professions do not have this advantage, but this training certification is different.

2. It’s a Rewarding Career

A career in healthcare is a rewarding one because you are able to directly help many people. In this case, medical coding and billing professionals help doctors and nurses by relieving them and also help patients by sorting out bills and insurance claims on their behalf.

With payment and insurance involved, the importance of this work cannot be underestimated. A small mistake can lead to potentially big problems. Hence, medical billing and coding specialists serve vital roles in the entire healthcare industry by helping to keep costs down, reducing medical errors, and ensuring that patients’ medical histories are organized and recorded correctly.

3. You Don’t Need to Go to Medical School

Many people dream of going into medicine to help others. But this dream usually comes with a big price tag in the form of a four-year bachelor’s degree, four more years of medical school, medical residency, and further specialized training. Between the time and tuition, most people give up on their dream.

Luckily, a career as a medical billing and coding specialist allows you to help others and serve in the medical facilities in a crucial role, without the need to obtain a medical degree. Generally, you could receive certification in this field and be working in months rather than years!

4. Catching Errors Can Save Lives

It’s not just doctors who save lives; medical billing and coding specialists are sometimes heroes as well. Medical coding errors can often lead to deadly outcomes when an incorrect code leads to the wrong treatment.

By ensuring all data entered is accurate, these medical professionals help doctors and nurses ‘do no harm’ to their patients. Medical coding and billing specialists are people with great attention to detail and take a huge responsibility to ensure that the system is working smoothly for both healthcare providers as well as patients.

5. Many Different Career Settings to Choose From

When it comes time for you to land that job, you may want to know that you have many options to choose from. Medical billers and coders can work in a variety of settings including in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, administrative support centers, and even medical laboratories.

This means you will look forward to a dynamic job market with plenty of job opportunities. Also, these opportunities are likely found all around the country, so the choice of state is not going to be an issue. Move anywhere you want and there is an opportunity waiting for you to get started.

6. You Can Start Your New Career in Just a Matter of Months

Many adults who are looking for a career change with better pay and benefits typically don’t have years (or the budget) to dedicate to obtaining a degree.

With many complicated financial decisions, most people end up letting go of their dreams. But it doesn’t have to be the care anymore. Most medical billing and coding programs are short-duration. And that means you could start earning more much sooner!

7. Working from Home

If you’re not really a 9-5 type of person, many facilities, like hospitals and urgent care clinics, operate 24/7, so you have your choice of different schedules that suit you. Some may also allow their billers and coders to work from home as well. Trust me that is an advantage to think about during these Covid times.

This can be incredibly helpful to single moms and others who are caretakers to family members and do not want to put their families at unnecessary health risks. Beyond the convenience of working from home, there are also the cost savings of less wear and tear on your vehicle and less need to fill the gas tank! You don’t only save patients but also the environment.

8. There’s Plenty of Room for Upward Mobility

You no doubt want a career that allows for room to grow. Becoming certified in medical billing and coding puts you smack-dab in the middle of the entire medical administration field, with many options to pivot and advance in the future.

With the right education, experience, and a willingness to take on new administrative responsibilities, medical billers, and coders may be able to move into a supervisory role or management position, increasing their earning potential.

Moreover, being around experts in the medical field, constantly learning, seeing new advancements in the field as they happen, gaining relevant experience as you go, and the right networking, working in this position can expose you to many future career possibilities.

You’re definitely going to need to be prepared for the certification by receiving training and all the right preparation from a top program.

5 Things to Look for In A Medical Billing and Coding Certification Program

1. Find an online program from a licensed school or accredited university

This is the first step and the most important to make sure you get the right education. The nature and importance of this work in the medical field means professionals are rigorously trained.

For that, proper education cannot be ignored. Plus, you’ll also get a certificate of completion to hang on your wall!

2. Look for a discount and a low monthly payment plan

Such a deal would be hard to find, but OnlineDegree.com can help…we go out to help everyone get discounts! Our mission is to make education affordable and accessible for everyone and seeing the financial toll this ongoing pandemic has taken, we understand this need even better.

3. Make sure an externship placement is included

To gain work experience this step is extremely important. Hands-on training will make you more marketable for the best job opportunities out there.

Not just job prospects but an externship will give you the right exposure and hands-on practice to make a good impression from the first day on job.

4. Look for an online, mentor-supported course you can take at your own pace

Online and self-paced is key! You can complete the program online at your pace and schedule with the help you need. For adult learners, this is another important aspect that they should pay attention to.

Studying online and in your own schedule and pace helps spend more time with family and take care of other responsibilities as you work toward this new exciting career.

5. Find out if textbooks are included in the cost of the program

Medical billing and coding textbooks can be expensive! We understand this problem.  We recommend finding a program that doesn’t charge extra for books. Don’t worry we can help you find it :).

6. (Bonus!) Use our free quiz to find a certification program that meets all of these criteria

We’ve done the research for you! Save time by using our healthcare quiz to get matched with the best certification programs. All programs meet these criteria and are chosen for you based on your career goals and life situation.

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Medical Billing and Coding Specialists had a median annual salary of $46,660 (or $22.43 per hour) in 2021. Salary data also suggests that medical billers and coders who have earned certification have greater earning potential.

For instance, in 2022, the American Academy of Professional Coders Salary Survey found that coders who obtained their Certified Professional Coder credential earned an average wage of approximately $45,701.

That’s above the national average.

Beyond credentials, location also influences how much these professionals make. Those billers and coders who live in areas of the country with higher costs of living tend to be paid more as do those who live in urban (as opposed to rural) areas.

And finally, billing and coding salaries vary by industry.

For example, in 2017 the BLS reported the following median annual salaries for these top industries:

• Professional, scientific, and technical services: $47,000
• Hospitals; state, local and private: $47,090
• Administrative and support services: $46,900
• Nursing care facilities: $37,740
• Offices of physicians: $37,330

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This growth is due in large part to an aging population that will require more medical services and also newer medical emergencies that we have seen in the past couple of years, globally.

Medical billers and coders will be needed to organize and manage all of this new incoming data to help with increasing claims for reimbursement from insurance companies.

In addition, the transition towards digitization in more and more places and widespread use of electronic health records (EHRs) by different healthcare providers will lead to an increased need for billers and coders to organize and manage this new data.

According to the BLS, job prospects will be the best for those with certification in health information and a thorough understanding of technology and computer software. Right programs can help you achieve that level.

Coincidentally, the university or school certification programs we recommend cover those exact topics to fully prepare you.

Your first step toward your career as a medical billing and coding specialist is completing the certification training program through an authorized school or accredited university.

Do not underestimate the importance of formal training for this field. This will ensure a solid educational foundation and get you ready to enter the job market.

For instance, you may want to work for an insurance company like UnitedHealthcare, BlueCross Blue Shield, Kaiser, and others. Medical billing and coding specialists review and manage claims for the payer as well as for clinics and facilities owned by the payor.

These professionals also work within schools, local governments and other public entities. They may also work for the military and Veterans Affairs (VA) and can work anywhere in the world on American military bases and facilities.

But that’s not all! Medical billing and coding specialists are also needed at pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing companies, software development companies, professional associations, and inside courtrooms assisting healthcare lawyers.

The choices are endless and each one offering so much to learn outside of the medical field, both soft and hard skills.

Next, it’s a good idea to get a little experience under your belt before hitting the job market to look for the job that works best for you.

The good news is a good certification program will include an externship where you’ll get real-world experience, working in the industry to understand which skill set is needed and to figure out exactly where your skillset fits the best!

Q: What Does a Medical Biller and Coder Do Every Day?

A: The duties of a medical biller and coder may vary slightly based on where they work exactly, but, generally speaking, you will work with healthcare providers to determine services and be in charge of managing the insurance claim process.

Q: What is a Medical Billing and Coding Certification?

A: A Medical Billing and Coding Certification is a valuable asset to have as it signals to prospective employers that you have taken the time to study the complexity of billing and coding. This certification will help you stand apart from the crowd.

Q: What Skills Will I Learn in Medical Billing and Coding Training?

A: When you pursue certification in this field you will learn medical terminology, health services and information systems, classification of diseases coding, and much more!

Q: What Are the Prerequisites for Enrollment in a Certificate Program?

A: The only requirement for enrollment in these programs is a high school diploma or equivalent.

So here’s what we recommend you do to get started: Take this free masterclass to learn more about getting certified as a medical biller and coder.

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