Certified medical coders convert medical reports into a numerical code for insurance companies to match medical services to their own equivalent. They must complete coding training and pass a certification test. Job opportunities range from small individual medical practices to large hospitals, and many transcriptionists and medical billing professionals transition to coding.
A certified medical coder is a medical administration professional who takes reports provided by medical transcriptionists and converts them into a numerical code. This code is universal and allows insurance companies to match medical services to their own equivalent. Coding is essential for submitting health insurance claims, and no insurance company will issue payment without proper coding. All certified medical coders must complete coding training and pass a certification test before starting work.
Becoming a certified medical coder starts with a good understanding of medical terms. Potential coders will have several options for obtaining the necessary training. They can take a university program to learn coding or receive training at a vocational program or technical school. There are also some self-taught online courses that give you the medical knowledge you need to be successful in this field.
The next step is actual certification to work as a medical coder. Almost every employer requires medical coders to be certified. This is to ensure that the coder has the necessary skills to do the job. The certification exam is offered by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). Once the coder passes the exam, he or she is officially certified and can look for employment.
There are many different job opportunities for a certified medical coder. They range from small individual medical practices to large, busy hospitals. Virtually every medical professional needs to have a medical coder on staff. There are even some coders who work from home. The number of coders on staff depends on the size of the institution. A medium-sized hospital may need up to fifty coders on staff.
A medical coder’s job passes to other medical administrative professionals. For example, medical transcriptionists review physician notes and generate a report. These reports are then provided to coders to determine specific treatment and diagnostic codes. In fact, many transcriptionists also go through training to get a job as a certified medical coder. Their medical backgrounds make them excellent candidates, and filling two positions with one employee makes the whole process more efficient.
Medical billing professional is another position that often transitions to coding. Codes provided by medical coders are used on insurance claim forms and billing statements. Medical billing and certified medical coder often have the same position in smaller medical establishments. One employee with all these skills is often more valuable than several individuals.
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