Medical Billing & Coding Overview

Answer 1

Healthcare services are rendered every day around the world. We are familiar with doctors and nurses; however, how do these professionals receive payment for the services? Medical Billing and Coding professionals handle the details of payment. Every service rendered is assigned a code. This code allows a Medical Billing and Coding specialist to generate a billing statement. This can be a complex process because legislation and laws change often. Thus, the Medical Billing and Coding professional must stay abreast of applicable laws. Medical Billing and Coding schools around the country offer excellent programs. These programs are designed to teach the future Medical Billing and Coding professional key skills.

Accuracy is a must within this field. A mistake can be highly costly. For example, what if a Medical Billing and Coding specialist charges $10.00 for a procedure that cost $100,000? The consequences can be devastating to a company. Medical Billing and Coding specialists are trained in a number of areas. Most colleges and schools offer an associate program in Medical Billing and Coding. The program covers general knowledge areas. For instance, basic English, math, science, and social studies. Once the student advances to the course major, the student learns about accounting, keyboarding, computer software, CPT coding systems and much more.

The profession of Medical Billing and Coding is governed by coding manuals. These ICD-9 manuals contain all of the procedure codes to properly generate bills and statements. This whole process is complex, and the student must learn these codes completely. After 24 months, the student can receive an associate’s degree in Medical Billing and Coding. Certification is advisable. Employers look very favorably on the Medical Billing and Coding certification. The complexity of the industry demands this certification. A combination of education and certification can secure you a successful place in the Medical Billing and Coding profession.

Recent healthcare legislation in Washington DC will increase the number of jobs available in Medical Billing and Coding. In fact, the growth of this career is expected to be huge. Baby boomers will need more medical services and those services must be billed. Thus, career opportunities in Medical Billing and Coding look highly promising. An entry level Medical Biller and Coder can expect to earn around $30,000 per year. Increased experience can raise the yearly salary to $40,000. Advancement is possible and supervisory positions can command a salary of $60,000 or more per year. A future in Medical Billing and Coding can be yours.