5 Steps to Starting a Medical Coding Career?

Answer 1

A medical coder works in the administrative/accounting/billing side of health care. His or her function is to translate medical services performed by health care professionals into alpha numeric codes that appear on bills. These codes serve to accurately represent what services were performed so that some kind of payer – insurance companies as well as patients – can be billed for those services. Medical coding allows for the accurate transfer of health information between doctors, hospitals, patients, insurance companies, and sometimes lawyers so that proper payment can be made. As is the case with many other allied health fields, this job type has high demand that is expected to increase still further in coming years. The following are the steps you need to take to get involved in this lucrative career.

1. Make sure you have a high school diploma.

To be complete, it should be stated that the process of preparing educationally for medical coding technically begins in high school. A high school diploma is required as a prerequisite to being employed in medical coding work. Academic subject areas like Biology and anatomy are useful, as well as ordinary English, math and writing skills.

2. Take a medical coding course of study.

The next step is to take and finish a medical coding course either at a four year college or university, a community college, or an online school of some sort. If you obtain either an Associate’s or Bachelor’s in medical coding (or a more general allied health or medical administration major that includes coding) your job outlook will be promising. There are schools and organizations that give shorter courses, for instance one year in length, but be cautious with these. They may not be accredited and some, especially online ones, can be outright scams. Look around at your local listings for colleges, career schools and adult education institutions for courses in medical coding.

3. Get Certified.

Legally, there aren’t actually any federal or state mandated certification tests that you have to take to enter the field of medical coding. But certification exams are given by a number of schools. Also there are some widely accepted exams offered by professional organizations. For instance, the CPC exam/certification offered by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) is a well known certification, and one which employers value highly. These exams show employers your mastery level while also demonstrating to you as a student entering the field that you’ve got a thorough grasp of medical coding.

4. Look for employment.

Once you’ve finished your training and gotten certified you can begin seeking employment. The standard job search approaches apply: Write up a resume showing your education, certification level/ degree. Look in the newspaper and in online directories for available job slots and apply. An interview will be scheduled and you’ll be underway.

5. Consider doing medical coding independently.

There is also the possibility of doing medical billing in a more freelance way – on an independent, contractual basis. Check online freelancing web sites, Craigslist, medical job listing sites and so on for independent coding opportunities. The job ad may state that a medical practice or insurance company is seeking coders on a per diem or per job basis. Also you can just advertise independent or “outsourced” medical coding to doctor practices, local hospitals, insurance companies, and so on. Set up a home office with internet and fax and you’re ready to go. You will probably need to familiarize yourself with some of the latest medical coding software as well. In these economic times, independent contractors are an option that medical practices are looking to increasingly as an alternative to keeping employees such as coders on a fixed salary. Considering that medical coding is in high demand, opportunities for independent work shouldn’t be hard to find.

Medical coding is a great career to look into if you like math, office work, and involvement in the field of health care. A short online search will give you a sense of the many educational and job avenues to be found in this lucrative employment area.