Medical Coding and Billing is a career that is growing. There are so many applications for this skill that career options are practically endless. Attending a Career College for Medical Coding and Billing will equip you with a lifetime skill and lifelong career options. So, if you are interested in the medical field, but are not interested in going to medical school then a career in medical coding and billing is perfect for you. The following are some of the skills that a Career College Education in Medical Coding and Billing will teach you, and how they would apply in the professional world.
Medical Coding and Billing Career Colleges are going to teach you some basics that you will build upon as you grow your career. Basic concepts that are required to succeed in this career would include the ability to read and understand medical coding books such as the CPT, Current Procedural Terminology Book, The ICD-9-CM book, HCPC book and others. These books contain the codes that medical professionals will utilize on the bills that are submitted for payment. Once you understand the basics of how to read and apply the knowledge found in these types of books, you will be prepared for a number of careers. The following are some examples of careers that will be open to you after you complete an education at a Medical Coding and Billing Career Colleges.
* Medical coding and billing clerks in a hospital, clinic or physician’s office allow you to utilize the skills taught by your Medical Coding and Billing Career Colleges to ensure that the medical provider bill patients and insurance companies correctly and is reimbursed for all services that were rendered.
* Insurance companies bill processing specialists use the skills taught by your Medical Coding and Billing Career Colleges to make sure that the charges billed by medical providers are appropriate for the condition or medically necessary, reasonable for treatment standards, documented in the medical records, and billed according to the rules and regulations governed by the American Medical Association. This career choice builds on the skills taught initially in Medical Coding and Billing Career Colleges by adding investigation, inductive and deductive reasoning to these skills. The combination of skills can be quite challenging and rewarding.
* Customer service positions for benefits departments, insurance companies, or providers’ offices allow you to speak one on one with patients or providers and explain how their bill for services rendered was paid. This career builds on the skills taught initially in Medical Coding and Billing Career Colleges by adding a research application and customer service. This career will teach you how to communicate to a wide variety of people in various situations; you will also learn how to manage stress and speak to emotional callers without becoming emotional yourself. These are all valuable skills.
* Workers’ Compensation bill processor is another option after completing your work at the Medical Coding and Billing Career Colleges. Each state has different rules and regulations on how to pay workers’ compensation bills and in addition to understanding the basics that your education at the Medical Coding and Billing Career Colleges gave you, you will use your analysis of medical records to determine not only if it’s reimbursable according to the American Medical Association but also according to the state specific fee schedule in order to remain compliant. This career is exciting because workers’ compensation is a constantly changing field. Fee Schedules update constantly and there are more variables in determining medical necessity and reasonableness than in regular non workers’ compensation medical treatment.
* An education at a Medical Coding and Billing Career Colleges will also prepare you for a career as an insurance adjuster. An insurance adjuster has a broad spectrum of career options. You can be a car insurance injury, workers’ compensation, or general liability insurance adjuster or case manager. This is a growing and profitable career. The skills your Medical Coding and Billing Career Colleges taught you will enable you to determine whether care given to your claimants is reasonable or excessive, cost effective, documented, abusive or fraudulent and when to authorize care. Your education would make you an asset as an adjuster.
* A Medical Coding and Billing Career Colleges education will also prepare you to train others in this field. You will be able to train others to perform job tasks related to medical coding and billing. You can also teach others about specific medical topics and how to research to determine the reasonableness of treatment.
An education at Medical Coding and Billing Career Colleges prepares you to get ahead in life. You have many career options open once you complete the training and the field is only going to keep growing especially with the changes that are coming to the healthcare system. Good luck in your new career.