There are very few jobs and professions offering as much versatility and flexibility as healthcare industry especially medical billing and coding. Though medical billing and coding are known as a single profession, they both are two different functions and two distinctive career options.
Medical Coding
Medical coding experts update patient records using the ICD-10 index to make sure they are compliant with federal rules and insurance needs.
Medical Billing
Medical billing professionals enter the assigned codes and patient details with insurance information into the hospital’s billing software and submit the same to the insurance firm for payment.
Both of the jobs ensure that claims are being processed correctly and healthcare companies and doctors are paid for their services in time.
Benefits of being a Medical Biller and Coder
Home Business
Learning medical coding and billing can help you to start your own home business in low cost. All you require is a computer and your client’s medical software access to get started.
Learn Online
It’s easy to get medical billing and coding education online. There are various online resources and learning centers to get regular training while resuming your job at the same time. Training can be finished in a few months as per your selected programs and school.
More Job Options
Medical billing and coding jobs are always in demand. Thus, you will never have to worry about jobs and career success. According to the statistics prediction by the U.S. Bureau of Labor, the job market for coding and billing jobs in the healthcare industry is growing every day on a fast pace.
No Physical Stress
By choosing medical billing and coding career, you can avoid physical stress in other fields related to the healthcare industry. Other jobs in the same industry often require physical labors as they revolve around patient care and have rapid completion times. As a medical coder and biller, you have to work either from the comfort of your home office or in an office of a reputed company.
Why you need a Certification?
Though a certificate in medical billing and coding is not mandatory, it’s good to have one as it will help you in getting a job easily. Since medical billing and coding jobs are in high demand and having a certification is quite difficult to find, thus it’s not a requirement for hiring in any healthcare company.
A certification in your field allows you to demand a higher salary in your job. When you get hired for a job, there are possibilities that your organization may also ask you to get certification in the future.
Certifications are not provided by institutions, training centers, colleges and schools that offer medical billing and coding training. There are a few certifying organizations in the healthcare industry. Certification is separate from the formal education.
Skills and Traits you Need to Grow in this Field:
Basic computer skills
Good concentration
High ethical standards
Excellent communication skills
Patience and detail oriented person
Analytical and thorough
Potential Job Options and Workplace
There are several career routes and options for a medical billing and coding expert. You can start a home business or become a freelance coder and biller.
Below job, roles can help you to start your beginning education. Here are a few advanced job options.
Electronic Health Records Expert
Health Informatics Specialist
Hospital Coding Manager
Clinical Manager
Cancer Registrar
However, home business or a doctor’s office is not the only job option. There are so many workplaces in different categories and businesses where you can work or practice as a medical billing and coding expert.
Physician’s Office
Scientific Services
Hospitals
Technology Support Departments
Insurance Companies
Skilled Nursing facilities
Learn Online
It’s easy to get medical billing and coding education online. There are various online resources and learning centers to get regular training while resuming your job at the same time. Training can be finished in a few months as per your selected programs and school.
Medical billing and coding education online can be easier and faster to attain than you think. You can earn your diploma in as little as 11 months or a degree in only 18 months! An 18 month program gets you an associate degree. It works off of the courses in the 11 month program and adds general education classes. In as little as 11 months you could be earning wages as a medical coder.”
Contributed byhttp://www.aoptraininginstitute.com
Great article. Also with the increasing percentage of businesses that opts to outsource their billing services, this is a good reason for a possible career shift.