Medical coding and billing is an area of healthcare that can offer some interesting and roles for the right type of people. It is a job that allows you to work closely with both healthcare providers and insurers, gain a very strong understanding of all different aspects of healthcare provision, and also fill a role that is vital to how the healthcare system operates. It is also rare in that it is a professional, fairly lucrative position within healthcare that does not require you to hold a college degree – only specific training and accreditations designed for the role.
What Kind of Work do Medical Coders Do?
Medical coders use data from patients’ medical records in healthcare facilities to assign specific codes for billing and insurance. They can also specialize in certain fields of healthcare, for instance, later in a career in medical coding and billing, you might choose to focus on one area, like ambulatory care, general surgery, or things like anesthesia. Medical coders use specific software and tools to help in their work, such as this MRA score calculator, which is used for Medicare risk adjustment calculations. Working with technology is an important part of the job.
In some positions, you may also be involved in following up on other admin associated with billing and revenue.
What Kind of Person is Suited to Medical Coding and Billing as a Career?
The work involved in medical coding requires a lot of attention to detail and strong analytical skills. This means it is better suited to people who enjoy diligent, focused work, rather than bigger-picture, creative types of jobs. While it does involve liaison with people in the healthcare industry and on the insurance side, most of the detailed work is done independently, so you need to be someone who is self-motivated and doesn’t mind working on their own. It can potentially be a job that can be done from home, depending on the requirements of your employer.
You’ll also need a good memory and be good at absorbing new information and applying it quickly because you’ll need to acquire knowledge about everything from diagnostic codes themselves to medical terminology, anatomy, and even medical law and ethics.
How to Get a Job in Medical Coding
The only prerequisite to begin your training is a high school diploma or GED, so if you have this, you’ll then want to enroll with an accredited provider. Training will typically take a few months and consist of a diverse range of modules that will help arm you with the information you need. Next, you can gain professional qualifications by taking exams with the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), which can help show employers you are ready to fulfill the role. These include a Certified Professional Coder certification and then higher levels like Certified Coding Specialist.
If you meet the prerequisites and think coding could be right for you, why not look into training for your new career today?
If you have no experience in medical coding, but would like to try working in this field, you can find jobs on Jooble.
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