Medical Billing and Coding Careers – Jobs, Salaries & Education Requirements

The days of color-coded file folders are waning as electronic health data and technologies become omnipresent in the healthcare field. The transition has put medical billers and coders in high demand, but before jumping into one of these health information fields, it’s important to know what billing and coding careers entail, the education and certifications necessary, and how to find a job and advance in the field.

Increased access to healthcare, combined with an aging population, are fueling the growth of healthcare jobs and the administrative support services needed. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 15 percent growth between 2014 and 2024 for medical records and health information technicians, a career that can be entered fairly quickly – often in less than a year – through earning a certificate, diploma or associate degree. Graduates may then take positions in a variety of settings, from doctor’s offices to private billing firms. The following sampling of careers shows the diversity of jobs available to medical billing and coding professionals.

Work Environment: Call Center

Answers phones to respond to general customer inquiries, invoice questions, and customer complaints. Also prepares memos and correspondence, and contacts customers regarding outstanding balances.

Work Environment: Hospital or healthcare system

Oversees billing and re-billing procedures and troubleshoots problems. Ensures that compliance, quality, call model accuracy, client specifics and collections practices workflows are adhered to.

Work Environment: Remote/At home

Codes, reviews and audits medical records to ensure that diagnostic codes and modifiers align with coding guidelines. Ensures work is accurate and has been submitted for payment.

Work Environment: Physician’s Office

Oversees coding department operations, such as managing electronic medical records (EMRs), performing coding edits, and analyzing data. Advises and educates employees in various coding departments, assesses performance and compliance, and implements various tactics to improve the coding and billing process.

In 2013, the unemployment rate for Certified Professional Coders was just 1.7 percent, compared with 7.4 percent national unemployment rate. (Becker’s)

According to the BLS, the following types of industries employ the highest number of medical billers and coders:

Need to stay home with the kids? Prefer to work in the middle of the night? Want to cut the commute to save time and money? Working remotely is one of the main draws for people who become medical billers and coders. Since work is done via computer, many employers hire independent contractors, or allow employees to choose when and where they work. The only requirements are high-speed Internet access, a secure connection to comply with HIPAA privacy requirements—and enough self-motivation to get the job done.

Explore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level.

Although individuals in both medical billing and medical coding can expect to work closely with each other, they will also have their own, specifically defined workplace roles and responsibilities.

Salaries for medical billers and coders depend on several factors. Education, certification, experience, location and employer can all affect earnings. On average, annual earnings are between about $35,000 and $50,000, although wage estimates vary depending on the source. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a 2015 median annual salary of $37,110 for U.S. medical records and health information technicians, which includes coders. The AAPC reports that member earnings averaged at $50,775 in 2014. The employment data site Payscale shows that the median annual wage is $38,463 for medical coders and $35,139 for medical billers.

Jobs for both medical record and health information technicians, as well as medical and health service managers, are both growing faster than the national average for all careers, at 15 percent and 17 percent, respectively. (BLS)

Source:BLS

Medical billers and coders have multiple opportunities to increase their earnings, from specializing in certain aspects of their field to gaining new skills that will allow them to switch careers paths. Following are some of the most common strategies:

Unlike some industries that are concentrated in a particular region, healthcare jobs are everywhere, so people seeking a job may stay in their own communities or widen the net as much as they want. Following are several places to not only find jobs, but also pick up tips and other information about working in the field:

With its relatively quick educational and training path, medical billing and coding is an attractive option for many who want to enter the healthcare field. Rather than being an end goal, however, it can also be a launch-pad to careers that require more specialization or managerial responsibilities. Take a look below to see how professionals can combine medical billing and coding experience with additional training to leverage them into a more advanced job.