Files like these are expected do be a thing of the past as medical billers and coders move into electronic healthcare records.
The medical billing and coding profession is experiencing two-pronged growth.
First, the field benefits from the overall increase in demand for medical services, brought on by an aging population that demands more medical services and procedures.
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The switch from paper records to electronic billing and coding also means additional opportunities for those seeking employment in this field.
Online Medical Billing and Coding Degree Programs
Online courses can make the education necessary for entry into this field more convenient and accessible.
For students who have the discipline and focus to work outside the traditional, structured classroom environment, online medical billing courses can be ideal.
Online courses offer many advantages over a traditional classroom setting. Students can pursue coursework on their own time, scheduling it around work, family and other commitments.
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Transportation becomes a non-issue, which is especially advantageous for students who don’t live near a learning institution. Perhaps most importantly, the costs associated with online education are considerably lower than with traditional schools.
What Medical Billers and Coders Do
Medical billers and coders both work in the business section of medical facilities. Their primary job is to ensure that the medical care provider is reimbursed for services provided.
Coders handle the initial part of the billing process. Coders assign numeric and alphanumeric codes to the diagnoses and procedures in patient medical records. These codes provide a condensed version of descriptions for illnesses, diseases and treatments. The codes supply information for health care statistics, reimbursement, resource management and marketing.
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Billers, then, use those codes to process medical billing. Billers submit these codes on claim forms to payers, provide payers with follow-up documentation to payers, update patient insurance information and appeal claims denials.
List of Job Duties for Medical Billers and Coders
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which classifies billing and coding professions as Medical Records and Health Information Technicians, lists the jobs’ duties as follows:
• Reviewing patient records for timeliness, completeness, accuracy, and appropriateness of health data
• Organizing and maintaining data for clinical databases and registries
• Tracking patient outcomes for quality assessment
• Using classification software to assign clinical codes for reimbursement and data analysis
• Electronically recording data for collection, storage, analysis, retrieval, and reporting
• Protecting patients’ health information for confidentiality, authorized access for treatment, and data security
Job Growth and Salary for Medical Billers and Coders
The BLS forecasts employment of medical billers and coders will increase 21% between 2010 and 2020. The aging population will require more medical procedures and subsequently increase the demand for skilled professionals who will handle billing and coding. Additionally, many medical facilities are switching to electronic billing, creating even more work as paper records must be converted to digital.
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According to the BLS, the average medial salary for these professions was $32,350 in May 2010. Employees in the lowest 10% of earners drew $21,240, while those in the 10% percent made more than $53,430.