It Takes Just a Few Minutes to Start Your Career in Medical Billing and Coding
Medical Coder Job Summary
Medical coders are on the front line of the billing systems for New Jersey medical practices and hospitals. They have the responsibility to examine the treatment records of patients and convert all services provided into universal codes. These services can be for diagnosis, medical or dental procedures, or any medical supplies or equipment utilized. There are multiple codes that are utilized in the conversion, including:
- CPT codes (Current Procedural Terminology).
- ICD codes (International Classification of Diseases).
- HCPCS codes (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding).
Medical coders depend on information from sources including nursing and physician notes, patient charts, and radiology and lab reports. Medical Coders must know not only what total services were provided for accurate reporting, but must have a working knowledge of all private payer and government rules that impact coding also. Improperly coded claims can lead to services not being covered, services being paid at a lower rate, or the physician or facility being penalized for fraudulent or improper billing. Since improper coding can actually cost New Jersey doctors and hospitals multiple thousands of dollars in earnings every year, a reliable medical coder is a vital asset for any healthcare team. They can operate in every kind of healthcare facility, including family practices, clinics, hospitals and urgent care centers. It is not unusual for seasoned medical coders to work at home as an offsite employee or an independent contractor.
Medical Billing Job Functions
As important as the medical coder's function is, it would be for naught without the collaboration of the medical biller whose labors produce revenue. Medical billing clerks are extremely important to New Jersey healthcare facilities and are essentially responsible for keeping them in business. Frequently the coder and biller may be the same man or woman within a medical facility, but they can also be 2 independent specialists. When the coder has completed his or her job, the biller uses the codes provided to fill out and submit claim forms to insurance carriers, Medicaid or Medicare. After they have been adjusted by the applicable entity, patients can then be invoiced for deductibles or other out of pocket costs. On a routine basis, a medical billing professional can also do any of the following:
- Verify health insurance coverages for patients and help them with billing questions or concerns
- Check on submitted patient claims and appeal any that have been declined
- Act as an intermediate between the healthcare provider, the insurance companies and the patients for proper claim resolution
- Produce and oversee Accounts Receivables reports
- Create and handle unpaid patient collections accounts
Medical billing clerks not only are employed by family practices, but also New Jersey emergency care facilities, hospitals, medical groups or nursing homes. They may work in every kind of healthcare facility that depends on the incomes generated by billing third party payers and patients.
Medical Coding and Billing Education and Certification
It's important that you get your instruction from a reputable school, whether it's a trade school, vocational school or community college. While it is not a requirement in many cases to attain a professional certification, the program you select should be accredited (more on the advantages of accreditation later). Most programs just require that you earn either a high school diploma or a GED to apply. The quickest way to become either a medical biller or coder (or both) is to obtain a certificate, which generally takes about 1 year to complete. An Associate Degree is also an option for a more expansive education, which for most schools requires two years of studies. Bachelor's Degrees for medical coding and billing are not widely offered. Once your training has been completed, although not required in the majority of states, you might wish to acquire a professional certification. Certification is an excellent means for those new to the field to show prospective employers that they are not only qualified but committed to their occupation. Some of the organizations that provide certifications are:
- American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC).
- Board of Medical Specialty Coding (BMSC).
- The Professional Association of Healthcare Coding Specialists (PAHCS).
- American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
Completing an accredited medical billing and coding program, along with earning a professional certification, are the best ways to accelerate your new vocation and succeed in the fast growing New Jersey medical care industry.
Online Medical Biller and Coder Training
If you are searching for flexibility and the convenience of attending classes in your home, then enrolling in an online medical billing and coding program might be a good option. They can be especially appealing to students in New Jersey who plan on going to school while continuing to work or have additional commitments that make attending classes on campus challenging. And as an additional benefit, online colleges are often less expensive than the standard classroom options. Expenses for such items as tuition, course materials and commuting may be reduced or eliminated. But be careful, as not all online schools are reputable. That's why it's imperative to verify that the online school you enroll in is accredited to ensure a superior education. We will cover the advantages of accreditation in the next section. Just be sure to establish that any online instruction you are considering is accredited by one of the national accrediting agencies, for example the Council on Higher Education Accreditation. So if you are dedicated enough to apply yourself to this mode of learning, then acquiring your degree or certificate online may be the ideal choice for you.