Medical Coding Specialist Career Guide

A medical coding specialist is a person who translates medical diagnoses and procedures from words into alphanumeric codes for billing purposes. Health-care facilities use the codes for billing purposes, for submission to insurance companies, to assess clinical care, and for research activity. Working as a medical coding specialist involves important responsibilities, and this type of professional has to be knowledgeable about medical terminology, pharmacology, and disease processes. The job outlook for medical coding specialists is strong, and medical coders often work in a variety of clinical settings.

Most medical coding specialists must first graduate from high school and then attend a program at a community college. Earning a degree is not necessary. Some coding specialists might also receive training through an online program. After completing the course of study, the student must then pass a coding credential exam to earn a certification in the field. After passing the certification exam, the graduate has earned the title of medical coding specialist and is ready to work as a medical coder.

Medical coding specialists will earn a salary that's based on their experience, their location, the work setting, and the difficulty of the coding work. Entry-level coders will earn less than more experienced coders, but salary increases are common. Some coders can also earn incentives based on the work performed. The demand for medical coding specialists is high, and projections indicate that coding specialists will continue to be in high demand for years to come.

Learn more about the field of medical coding by visiting these online resources:

• What Does a Medical Coding Specialist Do? A medical coding specialist works in a medical records billing department to classify diagnoses and procedures of patients.
• Medical Coding Specialist Job Description and Requirements: One of the primary responsibilities of a medical coding specialist is to ensure that health data is accurate and complete.
• Learn About Being a Medical Coder: Find out about this career option and the training you need for these jobs.
• What Is a Medical Coder? A medical coder takes diagnoses and procedures in words and assigns them their corresponding codes.
• How to Become a Medical Coder: After graduating from high school, someone who wants to become a medical coder needs to enroll in a medical coding program at a college or online school.
• Medical Coder: The job outlook for medical coders is very good because health care is a necessary service that people need everywhere.
• Becoming a Medical Coding Specialist: A medical coder learns the alphanumeric codes that correspond to various health procedures and diagnoses, allowing for the translation of words into codes for billing purposes.
• Medical Billing and Coding Job Duties, Requirements, and Salary: Good pay and flexible hours are two benefits of becoming a medical coder.
• Online Medical Billing and Coding Career Outlook: Learn about the potential for growth in this field to help you decide if it's right for you.
• Your Guide to Medical Coding and Billing Salaries: A typical salary for a medical coder with a certification is more than $50,000 annually and predicted to rise.
• Seven Things You Need to Know About Medical Coding Salaries: To earn the highest salary as a medical coder, you should first go to school to earn a certificate in the field.
• How Much Does a Medical Coding and Billing Program Cost? Students will need to pay tuition to enter a certification program, and they will also need to pay for a certification exam.
• Medical Coding Specialist Career Guide: Medical coders need to learn codes from the International Classification of Diseases and the Healthcare Common Procedures Coding System.
• How to Become a Medical Coder: Steps and Requirements: Medical coders are responsible for logging patient data into electronic health records.
• Hourly Wage for Medical Coding Specialists: Medical coders may earn an hourly wage between $23 and $31 per hour as of August 2020.
• Ten Companies Offering Remote Medical Coding Jobs: Some companies hire remote medical coders who can work from home instead of at an office.
• Salaries: Medical Dosimetrists, Medical Records Specialists, and Health Technologists and Technicians: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that medical records specialists earn an average of $42,630, which factors in all geographic locations, industries, and education levels of workers.
• Intro to CPT Coding: CPT codes describe evaluations, surgeries, tests, and other procedures performed by health-care providers.
• Code List for Certain Designated Health Services (DHS): Coders need to learn all CPT codes, which are continually updated to conform to changes in health-care services.
• Medical Billing Code Search: This list of medical billing codes is searchable by code and section.
• Medical Coding: Medical coding is a part of medical billing and is an integral part of the health-care industry.
• What You Need to Know About Medical Codes: Medical codes enable health-care professionals to describe medical treatments and diagnoses alphanumerically.