Medical billers and coders are essential in any medical establishment. They ensure the smooth running of an organization’s finances, communicate with insurance companies, and facilitate a uniform standard that ensures easy retrieval and storage of key information.
The guide below discusses the medical billing and coding profession in detail, exploring job requirements, work environment, and specialty possibilities. We also examine how candidates can enter this profession and consider career growth considerations.
The guide concludes with an analysis of the career outlook and salary projections for medical billers and coders nationwide.
What are a Medical Biller & Coder’s Responsibilities?
The responsibilities of a medical biller and coder are quite varied, but the major scope of the profession is to ensure that patient files are properly compiled, processed, and maintained. A medical biller and coder must also make sure that a patient’s medical information has been properly coded into the healthcare industry’s numerical coding system, which ensures universality and easy retrieval of information.
Additionally, professionals in this field are expected to be able to review a patient’s record to ensure timeliness, accuracy, and completeness. Other major responsibilities of medical billers and coders across the country include:
- Making use of classification systems to assign codes for patient diagnosis,
- Maintaining and retrieving records for insurance reimbursement,
- Carrying out fundamental data analysis,
- Recording data electronically for storage and reporting.
Medical billers and coders must uphold the confidentiality of patient records, a core tenet of the field.
Medical Biller & Coder Work Environment
Medical billers and coders can work in several environments, depending on whether they choose to specialize. However, the majority of professionals in the field work in hospitals, whether local, state, or private.
According to data obtained by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 28% of medical billers and coders work in this capacity. 19% of professionals in the field work in physicians’ offices, while 19% work in company and enterprise management.
8% of medical billers and coders work in professional, scientific, and technical services, while 8% work in administrative and support services. It is common for professionals in this field to work full time.
Certain healthcare facilities that are always open will make sure that medical billers and coders work in shifts, which can include nights and weekends.
How to Become a Medical Biller & Coder
The following outline shows how to become a medical biller and coder:
Basic Requirements
Typically, individuals who would like to become medical billers and coders are expected to have a high school diploma in order to enter into respected training programs and pursue certification. Those who don’t have a high school diploma may utilize a GED equivalent.
Important Skills
To have a better chance of succeeding on the job, prospective medical billers and coders are also expected to have some important fundamental attributes.
These include analytical skills to interpret medical documentation, a detail-oriented mindset thanks to the precision requirements, and integrity. Interpersonal and communication skills are also very valuable.
Educational Options
The majority of medical billers and coders begin their careers by participating in an academic program. Many training programs allow candidates to study part-time, and some even have virtual options that allow students to complete their education entirely online.
As for the awards and degrees, medical billing and coding students may pursue a certificate if they want to finish their education as quickly as possible. Those who don’t mind spending a few years in training can choose associate degree programs.
A typical medical billing and coding program will include courses in medical terminology, data requirements, legal and ethical considerations, and several coding/classification systems.
Certification
Certification is very important for a prospective medical biller and coder, as the majority of employers prefer to work with certified professionals over those who are not certified. Most training programs would have prepared students for certification examinations.
Some of the top credentialing organizations for medical billers and coders nationwide include the American Association of Professional Coders and the National Healthcareer Association. Applicants should be prepared to pass a professional examination before they can become certified.
Career Advancements
A career as a medical biller and coder leads to other allied healthcare professions. Some medical billers and coders, for instance, may ultimately pursue a career as a health information technologist or a medical registrar.
Others may work in health service management.
Many medical billing and coding certificate programs allow candidates to transfer credits to pursue an associate degree in Health Information Technology or related fields.
Medical Biller & Coder Specializations
Medical billers and coders can choose to specialize by focusing on a specific work environment. For instance, while some professionals focus on hospitals and physicians’ offices, others may focus on administrative duties and management of companies and enterprises.
A medical biller and coder may also choose to work only with insurance companies.
Medical Biller and Coder Salaries & Career Outlook
According to data revealed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, an average medical biller and coder can end the year with an average salary of $48,780.
Of course, candidates may fall above or below the average categories. For those who are among the lowest 10%, the annual average salary to expect is around $35,080, while those who are among the top 10% manage an annual median salary of $77,810.
Sorting by work environment, professionals who work in hospitals earn an average annual salary of $52,350, while those who work in administrative and support services earn an average annual salary of $50,120.
Career Outlook
According to data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate for medical billers and coders across the country will increase by 9% between 2023 and 2033.
The Bureau expects around 15,000 job openings every year within this period. The major reasons behind the projections include an increasing share of the aging population needing medical services, and the growing prevalence of heart diseases and chronic conditions.
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