Medical Coding and Billing Programs

Because of the economy, many people are returning to school to upgrade their job skills or train for a new career. Medical coding and billing is a rewarding career that continues to expand.   The average salary of an experienced medical coder can be as high as 60,000 dollars. According to the US Department of Labor, jobs in the medical coding and billing field are expected to increase by 20 percent in the next five years.

             Medical coding and billing professionals work in hospitals, outpatient medical facilities or work -at -home settings. They convert the information in medical records into codes used by the third party billers, insurance companies and Medicare.  The minimum educational requirement to become a medical coder is a high school diploma and a medical coding specialist certificate. Most outpatient medical facilities and hospitals prefer hiring coders who receive training from an American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) approved educational program and certification through AHIMA or the American Association of Professional Coders (AAPC).

Medical coder training programs are available online or in traditional educational settings. AHIMA approved coding programs include an online practicum or externship experience in a healthcare setting. Career Step is an accredited, AHIMA approved online medical coding and billing certification program. Graduates of Career Step’s program are eligible to take AHIMA’s national certification exam. Career Step provides students with a self-paced, online training program that is perfect for people who want to complete the program at their own pace and are unable to attend a traditional college. Career Step’s tuition prices are cheaper than comparable educational programs. The school provides ample financial assistance for qualifying students. In addition, there is a network of student, technical, career and support services at Career Step. Students typically complete the program in eight months to one year. Completing a training program in medical coding and billing is the beginning of a rewarding new career.  Visit the Career Step website at http://referral.careerstep.com/ref22094 for more information on their medical coding and billing program.

http://referral.careerstep.com/ref22094