Medical coders play a critical role in the modern healthcare reimbursement cycle. They transcribe patient visits into codes and forward them to medical billers, who then create claims and make sure doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers are properly reimbursed.
And because medical coders play such an important role, the healthcare industry highly values their services by offering them lucrative salary packages.
To put things into perspective, the minimum annual average salary of a medical coder is $38, 346; it’s what they get paid for an entry-level job.
So of course, the potential to earn is massive for them.
But what can medical coders actually do to up their pay, besides leveraging field-experience as an obvious bargaining chip?
The best advice for any medical coder who is at or near the top of their pay scale and wants to aim for a higher salary, is to pursue a professional certification.
Some well-known specialty certifications for medical coders include:
- CPC certification– Offered by the AAPC, formerly known as the American Association of Professional Coders, the CPC certification is the gold standard in the field of medical coding. To receive the certification, coders must pass the AAPC certification examination and demonstrate a two-year work experience in the field.
- RHIT certification– Short for Registered Health Information Technician certification, this specialization is specific to settings like physician offices or hospitals. Coders with AAPC certification can apply for an RHIT certification to further advance their skill set.
- CTR certification– The Certified Tumor Registrar credential is a specialty coding career certification in the sub-field of cancer registry, offered by the National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA). The NCRA’s certification board – the council on certification – oversees the CTR exam administration and credential maintenance.
- CIRRC certification– Developed by the AAPC, the CIRRC certification, short for Certified Interventional Radiology Cardiovascular Coder certification, is a professional coding certification in the domain of interventional radiology.
What Else Can Medical Coders Do?
Apart from pursuing professional certifications, medical coders can also try applying at a different healthcare setting to the one they are currently working in.
Employer options for medical coders include:
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Insurance companies
- Hospitals
- Physician offices
- Scientific research and development services
- Federal agencies
Pharmaceutical companies offer highest salaries to medical coders with the annual average being $66, 060.
Also, try applying for a job in the Pacific region (in states like Alaska, California, Hawaii and Washington) as coders working in this region tend to get paid higher because of the local job market dynamics.
On a concluding note, for a medical coder to succeed in the field, dedication and commitment are of utmost importance. Be committed and dedicated with your work and pursue certifications to advance your skills, and the success will follow.
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