What are the education options for aspiring Medical Billers and Coders?

The outlook for employment as a medical biller and coder is very bright as these skills are high in demand. This is the  reason you will find a variety of healthcare schools offering comprehensive  programs like certifications,  diplomas, an associate degree, or a bachelor’s program in medical billing and coding.  Beyond certification credentials & degree options, you should consider several other factors like which degree is right for you, what will be the future career growth and how it will fit in with ongoing as well as upcoming family commitments.  

Medical Billers and Coders Degree Options  

The different dimensions with each type of degree courses like an associate or a bachelor’s degree  will prepare for leadership roles to earn high salaries. Additionally, a certification program can kickstart your career by working as an immediate employment option.  

Diploma or Certification: This part of the education generally takes nine months to one year to  complete. Career college programs are the quickest route to working in the field than community  college programs. They are an ideal and adaptable option for immediate joiners who want to work as medical billers and  coders.  

Associate degree: It takes about two years to complete and goes beyond medical coding basics.  Both career and community colleges under CAHIM accreditation offer this program. It can be  transferable into a bachelor’s or master’s degree if planning to pursue further education. Associate  programs help seekers and employers to hire applicants with official skills. Medical billers and  coders entering healthcare require completion of an associate degree program.  

Bachelor’s degree: To have a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration or health information  management is a complete path to work in medical coding. It lasts for four years with more nuanced  concepts. People with a bachelor’s degree are at the top of the hiring list for employers and can quickly qualify for leadership roles with higher salaries.  

Medical Billers and Coders Degree Courses  

No matter which pathway one takes, you will need to be an expert in various things from anatomy and physiology to  insurance claim procedures and medical terminology. The prerequisite education in medical billing  and coding will include the following preferred courses:  

• Anatomy and Physiology: Gaining an understanding of the human body and how it functions together.  
• Insurance Claim Procedures: All medical billing and coding courses will offer a series of  professional training as far as filing insurance claims, denials, appeals, and collections. 
• Medical Coding: Medical billers and coders need to be familiar with the coding systems like  Current Procedural Technology (CPT), Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System  (HCPCS), and International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).  
• Medical Office Administration: In addition to the medical coding basics, you will learn how to  take care of other administration roles like scheduling appointments, greeting patients, effective  communication abilities, researching and resolving discrepancies, knowledge of accounting, and  other clerical work.  
• Medical Office Technology: All medical billing and coding courses will offer a version of this  class, which will teach you how to be competent with equipment, computer systems, 10-key  calculators, and software.  
• Medical Terminology: This course will train all the medical billers and coders with the proper  names for diseases, human anatomy, bodily processes, and other medical procedures.  

Medical Billers and Coders Accreditation  

Professionals should earn their certificate or degree from an accredited association like the  American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the American Health Information  Management Association (AHIMA). These two agencies have accredited medical billing and coding  programs that also unlock employment opportunities and good salary earnings.  

Medical Billers and Coders Financial Aid  

The cost of a medical billing and coding program depends on degree level. Bachelor programs cost  more as they require extensive coursework. Other factors contributing to the cost are public versus  private schools. Public schools rely heavily on funds by the state government, student tuition, and  federal grants, whereas private schools majorly receive donations from corporations, alumni, and  partners. Hence, private schools cost more and often offer robust institutional support programs.  

After completing the education program, the first option is to obtain a Certified Coding Associate  (CCA) credential. The second option for aspiring medical billers and coders is to acquire the  Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential, which can pull an average salary  between $40,000 to $55,150 per year as stated by the Department of Labor. Although this figure  might vary depending on the company, the amount of experience you already have, and the regional  area.