Are you entering the workforce for the first time or looking to start a new career in the healthcare industry? Then becoming a Medical Billing and Coding Specialist might be for you! Believe it or not, there are bountiful jobs to be had in one of the nation’s largest industries that don’t involve the time and money needed to become a nurse or a doctor. One such position needed at every medical office is a medical billing and coding specialist. Medical billing and coding are two processes that are vital to a medical office’s functioning.

A medical biller’s job deals with the billing process of medical services. But what about the billing process and where do medical billers fit in? In short, medical billing entails preparing billing claims to ensure that the medical practice receives proper reimbursement from insurance companies and healthcare programs (i.e. Medicare and Medicaid) for treatment they provide to their patients.

Similarly, medical coding also deals with billing insurance and other healthcare providers for reimbursement. However, medical coding is the process of translating medical diagnoses and procedures into universal codes listed in the International Classification of Disease, Tenth Edition (ICD-10), which is published by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Each diagnosis and procedure has a unique code, which makes it easy for insurance companies to pay out the proper amount for services rendered. It is imperative that medical offices receive sufficient reimbursement to meet the costs of providing patient care.

While entering codes and billing information comprises the bulk of a medical billing and coding specialists’ jobs, they may also perform aggregate tasks, such as serving as a common contact between the doctor’s and the office’s billing departments.

Many medical offices have a single person who handles both the medical billing and the medical coding. As such, many training programs offered at community colleges and vocational schools teach the two aspects of the medical office together.

Entering the medical billing and coding field typically requires the completion of a training program and passing a certification test, though requirements vary depending on one’s place of employment.

Now that you know the basics of what a medical billing and coding specialist does and why they’re important to the health of a medical office (pardon the pun), let’s delve into the top five reasons you should pursue this career path.

1. Job opportunities now and into the future

   • Medical billing and medical coding are functions performed at every hospital, immediate care center and any other medical office where patients are diagnosed or receive treatment. As the healthcare industry continues to boom, the necessity for medical coders will continue to increase, much like that of other healthcare professions. 
   • The number of medical records and health information technicians is anticipated to increase by 15 percent through 2024 relative to 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS attributes the increase in demand for billing and coding specialists to the increase in the number of people who have insurance. 

2. Heavy workload

   • Medical billing and coding specialists enjoy a fruitful job outlook now and into the coming years. There’s a reason for that. Every patient who visits a hospital, immediate care center or other medical facility has information that needs to be documented. 
   • Per data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 83.6 percent of adults and 93 percent of children had contact with a healthcare professional in 2015. Given that many of the individuals in those percentages made multiple visits to healthcare professionals, that is a lot of coding and billing work that needs to be done. More claims for reimbursement means more work for medical billing and coding specialists. 

3. Limited time in school

   • One of the perks of becoming a medical billing and coding specialist is that you can be a part of the prosperity the healthcare industry is currently enjoying without spending years in medical or nursing school. The bulk of employers require only a certificate or an associate degree, which can be achieved through completing a training program at your local community college, vocational school or even online institutions. 
   • Such programs can be finished in 18 months or less and will cost you only a small fraction of what you would spend studying to become a nurse or doctor. The educational foundation of anatomy and medical terminology can also be useful should you decide to advance your career in healthcare beyond the role of a medical billing and coding specialist. 

4. Potential to work anywhere

   • On top of the seemingly endless options of physical offices in which you could work, there is also the possibility that you can work from home. Working remotely is becoming increasingly common in the United States. According to a recent Gallup survey, 43 percent of Americans reported doing at least some work remotely in 2016. 
   • Medical billing and coding is no exception. Because everything is online, the need to commute to an office is no longer completely necessary. The availability of working remotely depends on your employer, but medical billing and coding specialist is a role that is certainly possible to be worked remotely. 

5. Making a difference in patients’ lives

   • Doctors and nurses may get all of the glory of patient care, but it is only one aspect of the everyday happenings at medical offices and facilities. There is much work that is done behind the scenes, such as billing and coding, that makes healthcare possible. 
   • The impact of your daily tasks also stretches beyond the confines of the United States. The ICD-10 codes that accompany each procedure and diagnosis not only serve as a record of maintenance and billing purposes, but are also used to tracked health trends locally, nationally and even globally. As a medical billing and coding specialist, you can take pride and satisfaction knowing that you are playing an integral role in the world’s healthcare. 
   • With your newfound knowledge of the medical billing and coding profession in tow, the next step of your journey to a new profession lies in selecting the right training program. 

Coyne College sets students up to achieve their dreams
 

Coyne College is one of Chicago’s top vocational education institutions and is proud to offer its Medical Billing and Coding Specialist program to students like you who are interested in the profession.

In the program, you will learn the ins and outs of electronic health recordkeeping and master the skills needed to secure an entry-level job in a plethora of different medical settings. What is even better, you can complete Coyne’s training program in as few as 48 weeks. In less than one year’s time, you can be ready to start your new career in the rewarding field of healthcare.

As a student in Coyne College’s medical coding and billing specialist program, you will obtain sufficient and applicable knowledge of subjects such as:

• Medical terminology
• Health records management
• Medical coding
• Insurance procedures
• Healthcare business communications
• Office administration
• And more!

You will learn the profession from Coyne’s knowledgeable instructors, who have substantial, invaluable workplace experience to foster your personal growth.

Do you have a job or another obligation that you fear might interfere with your ability to complete the program? Don’t worry because Coyne College offers both day and night classes for the program in order to accommodate your busy schedule. The medical billing and coding specialist program offered at the Coyne College campus, located in the heart of the Chicago Loop at the intersection of State and Madison Streets.

With more than 110 years of experience in helping students realize their dreams, Coyne College has a well-developed network of resources to help students land externships at the conclusion of their studies. 

Coyne College offers an array of career services and job placement help for its students, including mock interviews, externships and resume help. These resources can help students secure entry-level employment after completing the program.

Are you ready? The time is now to start on the path to playing a vital role in the healthcare of millions of people. Take your first step toward your new career as a medical billing and coding specialist by visiting https://www.coynecollege.edu/.