Medical insurance coders assign codes to patient information for billing and monitoring purposes. A two-year degree is required for certification, and on-the-job training is common. Job opportunities are expected to grow, and this career is a good option for those interested in medical information and computer skills.
As average life expectancy increases, the need for people working in all aspects of healthcare continues to grow. In the United States, all medical facilities use universal coding systems to maintain patient information and apply for Medicare insurance and reimbursement. A medical insurance coder assigns codes to each symptom, diagnosis and treatment for each patient and enters the information into a database.
A medical insurance coder reviews patient records to ensure that all services have been documented. He then uses a software program to assign the appropriate codes so that the treatment can be monitored and the correct amounts billed. Attention to detail is extremely important because incorrect coding can result in lost revenue for the medical facility. In addition, significant penalties can be assessed against an institution for improper collection of Medicare and Medicaid claims.
This is a career that does not require a four-year college degree. A training program for medical insurance programmers can be as short as nine months. However, a person generally cannot qualify to take a certification exam unless they hold an associate’s degree, which typically takes two years to complete. For this reason, most healthcare establishments will only hire applicants with a two-year degree.
Generally, associate degrees are not specifically designated as a medical insurance coder degree. They generally cover the broader field of medical information management. The only exception is for medical programmers who want to specialize in the cancer registry.
Undergraduate course work in health care information management includes training in medical terminology, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, data coding, and computer science. Most employers offer on-the-job training for new hires that is more specific to the coding systems actually used. While it is not necessary for a medical insurance coder to be certified, it is highly recommended. Certification increases job options and opportunities for promotion.
Hospitals, walk-in clinics, physicians’ offices, home health care providers, and long-term care facilities require the services of a medical insurance scheduler. Other potential employers include insurance companies and government health organizations. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of job opportunities in the field will continue to grow.
Becoming a medical insurance coder gives you a chance to break into the healthcare industry with a minimal amount of training. Courses are available at many community colleges, so education costs are relatively affordable. For anyone who enjoys medical information, is computer savvy and pays attention to detail, this could be a great opportunity.
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