Medical Billing & Coding: Career Facts You May Not Know

Medical billing and coding jobs are expanding around the country. As the population of the United States ages and medicine gets better, more people need medical care on a regular basis, which means that professions within the health care field are growing and will continue to grow for at least the next ten years.

If you’re thinking about getting certified as a medical biller or a medical coder, here are a few things about medical coding and billing careers that you may not know:

Medical Billers and Medical Coders Do Different Jobs

The terms “medical billing” and “medical coding” often get used interchangeably, but medical billers and medical coders actually do different (though related) jobs. Medical coders are the people who look at personal medical records and figure out how to properly code medical procedures, prescriptions, and diagnoses so that the person’s insurance company can be billed.

Medical billers are the people in charge of making sure that people are billed correctly. They work with insurance companies, patients, and medical coders to ensure that things don’t get overlooked and the right party pays for the right service. Both jobs require strong attention to detail and are usually done out of offices.

Medical Coding and Billing are Evolving

The latest coding system that medical billers and coders have to know is ICD-10. That stands for the tenth version of the International Classification of Diseases. This coding system gets updated every few years to reflect new technology, better classifications, and medical advances. It’s important for people who learn medical billing and coding to stay on top of their training over the course of their careers.

Medical Billers and Coders Don’t Need Advanced Degrees

You don’t have to go to a two- or four-year school to be successful as a medical biller or coder. As long as you have your high school diploma or GED, you can learn everything you need to know in order to pass your medical coding certification exam in just 18 weeks.

Allied Prep offers both online and in-class courses and financial aid opportunities to make it as easy as possible to earn your certificate. Learn more about our programs and about the career opportunities for medical billers and coders contacting us today!