Medical Billing and Coding: A Career for the Money-minded Person

If you have attentiveness to detail, a strong sense of responsibility, are punctual and dependable, and like watching over other people's money, a career as a medical biller and coder may be for you. Furthermore, simply submitting one correctly coded statement will make at least three people happy; the doctor, the patient, and the insurance company.
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Medical billing and coding is one of the fastest growing areas in the medical field, and supply is by no means keeping up with demand. That's because medical billing and coding has become so specialized with so many rules and regulations that most doctors' bills have to be submitted at least twice before the office gets it right. Furthermore, the job takes so much time from the regular duties of the office manager that it is not uncommon for a small office with only two doctors to have four or more people just to handle the coding and billing for insurance and Medicare.

Many people consider a coding and billing career because of the flexibility. You could be working in a large office complex that handles the coding for multiple doctors and hospitals, in the office of a single doctor, or even out of your own home. If you work at home, you can choose your own hours, decide how many doctors you will work with, and—thanks to the convenience of laptop computers—can even take your job with you on vacation.

What does a coder do?
A medical coder assigns alpha-numeric codes to illness, injuries and medical procedures, under a system of medical coding that is used throughout the health-care system. The medical coder will translate a medical report into a code or series of codes, and must be able to read the report and determine which is the important part for determining the codes. It takes patience and attention to detail because a coding error will result in delay of payment which is frustrating to both the doctor and the patient.

How does one get started?
At one time, an individual could take a home study course on billing and coding and soon be in business for herself. Nowadays, the best way to get started on your new career is to enroll in one of the many fine institutions that give specialized, online training courses and award a certificate in testimony of your accomplishments. As our medical system is so complex—and is not getting any simpler—you start out at a disadvantage if you are not certified, even though there are not yet any laws requiring certification.

Several levels of certification are available with programs taking from one to two years. Also, you will maintain your certification with continuing education credits that keep you abreast of new developments. Depending on the school, in addition to courses in medical billing and coding, you may be expected to take classes in writing and interpersonal communication, computer skills, and the conventions of the coding system itself. To help you properly code the doctors' reports, you may also take courses in anatomy, disease, pharmacology, and health care management.
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