The billing and coding department keeps the money coming in.
Jobs in the medical industry are in high demand, including administrative positions. The field of medical billing and coding is an important part of any doctor's office or medical facility and is a field that is well respected. In a short time, you can train to become a professional in medical billing and coding and enjoy a stable income and a regular daytime working schedule.
Description of Medical Billing and Coding
Medical billing and coding is an important part of the business operation of any hospital, private physician's office or other medical facility. When patients have any type of medical visit, the services they receive are coded and entered into a computer system, where an invoice is generated and sent to the patient. The staff of the medical billing and coding department keeps the doors open by keeping the money coming in.
Duties of Medical Billing and Coding Staff
Those employed in medical billing and coding must sort and file a great deal of paperwork. The medical billing and coding staff regularly handles all types of insurance claims, including private, Medicare and insurance fraud. Working in medical billing and coding involves handling confidential patient files and medical records on a daily basis and requires employees to be professional and discreet. Collections is also a responsibility of the medical billing and coding department.
Education for Medical Billing and Coding
Medical billing and coding training programs are offered at many allied health and technical schools and can sometimes be found at vocational schools. The length of study time for these programs is usually about nine months for certification if attending classes full time. Some two-year colleges also offer medical billing and coding programs that culminate in an associate's degree. For those with full-time jobs who want to further their education, many medical billing and coding programs are offered online.
Employment Opportunities
Once you are certified in medical billing and coding, you'll have a variety of employment opportunities. Hospitals employ a large number of medical billing and coding workers, as do other large medical facilities. Private doctor's offices and clinics also offer job opportunities in medical billing and coding, along with nursing homes, home health care businesses and some government agencies.
Medical Billing and Coding Salaries
A July 2009 survey by PayScale.com reports that the median starting salary for a beginning medical billing and coding professional is about $12.20 per hour. With at least one year of job experience, you can expect to average about $12.94 per hour. Certified medical billing and coding specialists who have five or more years of experience can generally earn $14.62 an hour, and those in the field who have been on the job at least 10 years or more can expect to earn at least $15.42 an hour.
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