Medical Billing and Coding Schools in Missouri

Anyone who wants to become a successful medical biller and coder in Missouri must understand the coding systems used in modern healthcare facilities. To do so, they usually have to choose a training program.

One of the beauties of starting a medical billing and coding career is the flexibility it offers. And this is available not only for training arrangements and destinations, but also for the work environment.

Thanks to their versatility, medical billers and coders can work in various environments, and demand across sectors continues to increase. Below, we explore everything an interested individual in Missouri needs to know to start their medical billing and coding career the right way.

How to Become a Medical Biller & Coder in Missouri

Below are the considerations required to become a medical biller and coder in Missouri.

Step 1: Soft Skills & High School Requirements

Anyone who wants to become a medical biller and coder in Missouri needs a range of soft skills. Communication, planning, interpersonal skills, organizational skills, and more are crucial for success on the job.

Applicants with a high school diploma or GED will also have a much easier time securing admission to the best programs, especially campus-based ones.

Step 2: Formal Training & Certification

Formal training is absolutely crucial for medical billers and coders, as it is for several other occupations. Naturally, there are several places to study as a prospective medical biller and coder in Missouri, each with its own unique offerings.

Some programs are notable for allowing candidates to study entirely online, while some let students study both on campus and online. Additionally, some programs offer certificate programs lasting a few months, while others are notable for their longer associate degree programs.

Accreditation from the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education is another factor to consider when choosing a training program for prospective medical billers and coders in Missouri.

Step 3: Resume Preparation & Employment

Certification is ideal after education as a prospective medical biller and coder because it makes employment easier and brings about several other professional benefits, as we will see below. Individuals who have fulfilled all these requirements can update their resumes and begin seeking employment at relevant organizations such as hospitals, insurance companies, and government agencies.

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Licensure & Certification Requirements

The Certified Professional Coder credential offered by the AAPC (American Academy of Professional Coders) is one of the most suitable options for medical billers and coders in Missouri. Not only is this one of the most recognizable credentials in the discipline, but it is also offered by a respectable institution and comes with several professional benefits.

Other suitable choices include the American Health Information Management Association’s Certified Coding Associate designation and the Certified Billing and Coding Specialist credential from the National Healthcareer Association.

Medical billers and coders in Missouri are not expected to pursue a state license.

Top Medical Billing & Coding Schools in Missouri

All of the entries below are excellent places to start studying to become a prospective medical biller and coder in Missouri.

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Salary & Career Outlook

Naturally, factors like work environment, specialty, experience, and professional credentials separate medical billers and coders in Missouri into several earning brackets. In the top 10% category, we have the highest-paid, with an annual average salary of $44,925.

In the bottom 10% category, we have the lowest-paid with an annual average salary of $29,176. In the median category, we have the average earners with a yearly salary of around $36,204, accordin to Indeed. Location is another factor responsible for this separation.

Currently, Saint Joseph and Ferguson boast the highest average annual salaries for medical billers and coders in Missouri, at $42,513 and $41,483, respectively. Coming just behind them is Bridgeton with an annual average salary of $39,886.