Are you a detail-oriented person looking for a career in the health care industry but don’t have years and years to devote to training? If you would still find working in a medical career rewarding then you might enjoy a career in medical billing and coding.
The men and women that work in medical billing and coding help ensure that health care providers, typically hospitals and clinics, get paid by the insurance companies of the individuals receiving their services. This involves a variety of tasks including accurately documenting any procedures performed and coding those procedures into the formats required by the insurance companies. Because of the vast amount of documentation required to effectively deliver health care services and a shortage of qualified workers, medical billing and coding is one of the fastest growing fields.
One of the advantages of medical billing and coding is the shorter amount of education needed to begin your career. It is possible to complete a certificate in medical billing and coding in less than one year. Many community colleges and junior colleges offer two year Associate’s degrees also. While it’s to your advantage to get as much training as possible, it doesn’t take multiple degrees to begin working as a medical biller and coder. In addition, becoming certified in medical billing and coding after finishing your training helps give you a leg up when looking for employment.