Medical Billing & Coding Overview?
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.