Medical Billing Is A Popular Career Choice – Here’s Why!

For those who want to work in healthcare, but don’t want to spend years in school getting multiple degrees, it may be time to consider a career in Medical Billing. It’s a way to give back to the community with your work, without having to sacrifice all those long years grinding away in school. Interested? Here’s everything you need to know about a career in Medical Billing!\

Why Medical Billing? 

Even if you’re right at the beginning of the career ladder, you’ll start out with a solid wage. The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics found that people who work in medical billing, medical records, and medical technician jobs, no matter how new they were to the job, earned an average salary of $39,180 per year.

This is also a career that’s highly stable, with plenty of job opportunities and growth. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, medical billing as a field will grow by thirteen percent by the end of 2026. With approximately 234,000 jobs available and an aging population who’ll need more medical treatment, there will be plenty of jobs on offer for you. 

One of the other great things about medical coding as a career is that it’s much more flexible than other careers in medicine. Unlike doctors or nurses, you won’t have to work crazy night shifts. You can work part-time, on a flexible schedule, or even from home if you want to. 

Medical billing and coding services are also a great way to be involved in medicine without having to be involved in the more gory aspects of the job. Doctors and nurses may have to see the more disgusting sides of performing medical procedures, but you won’t have to. 

Getting Started With Medical Billing

One of the biggest advantages to pursuing a career in medical coding services is just how quickly you can do it. While lots of careers in medicine can take years of training, education, qualification, and credentialing, this is a career that can be reached with as simple a step as taking an accredited training program. Completing an online degree in this area can be done in as short a time as three months, according to Medical Billing & Coding Certification. Without even a licensing exam required for this career, these are jobs that you can get into fast. 

If you want to invest in yourself further, there are associate’s degrees and bachelor’s degrees that can up your earning potential in medical billing. But you don’t have to have these to get your foot in the door. Another way to increase your chances of a high salary is to get certification in the industry from organizations like the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) or the American Health and Information Management Association (AHIMA). Sitting the Certified Coding Specialist exam from these organizations could open the door for you to get a hospital-based or physician-based certification.

The other great advantage of studying medical billing and coding is that while programs in this are available at community colleges and vocational schools, more and more programs are moving online. This means that you can fit classes and assignments around your life, rather than the other way round. You won’t have to move for a course, and you’ll be able to write assignments at home or listen to lectures on the bus. 

What Kind Of Jobs Are Available With Medical Coding? 

You’re probably wondering what kind of jobs you can get at medical billing and coding companies. The good news is that there are tons of options. Let’s take a look at some of them. 

Medical transcriptionists are some of the most common jobs in medical billing. They transcribe doctors’ notes and orders, either electronically or by hand. If you have medical billing or medical coding experience as well as a specialized training program, you could become a medical assistant. These workers are closer to patient care than others. Dental assistants handle various aspects of recordkeeping, schedule appointments, and provide patient care. Those who start out in medical billing also frequently move into the role of pharmacy technician. This is an entry-level position in a pharmaceutical career where experience with medical billing is highly valuable. Medical and health service managers, meanwhile, are the next step up on the ladder in medical billing and coding services. They coordinate, direct and plan medical services in a lot of different settings. 

As you can see, getting an online degree in medical coding could just be the start of a long and varied career. You can transform your job into one that focuses on management or administration, or you can use it as a first step into working directly with patients. Learning about medical billing will introduce you to the medical industry, help you gain experience, and teach you those vital skills you need to advance and progress in your career. Start your career now by conducting an online search. Narrow down the courses that are out there to three or four of your top choices and do research then. Soon you’ll be sorted to start a career in medical billing. 

Of course, when it comes to educational or career decisions, it’s always best to do your own research. Take your time, shop around and mull over whether or not your particular course or career that you have in mind is for you. But if you’re undecided, doing an online degree in medical billing can be a great way to kickstart your career. Get going on it now, and transform your life and your bank account. 

References

1. “Medical Records and Health Information Technicians”, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, accessed 13th April 2021, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-records-and-health-information-technicians.htm.
2. “How Long Does It Take To Complete A Billing and Coding Program?”, MB&C, accessed 13th April 2021, https://www.medicalbillingandcoding.org/qnas/how-long-does-it-take-to-complete-training-to-become-a-medical-biller-or-coder/.
3. “Train for Your Career in Medical Billing and Coding”, AAPC, accessed 13th April 2021, https://www.aapc.com/medical-billing/medical-billing-and-coding.aspx.
4. “Medical Coding and Billing Certificate”, Keystone, accessed 13th April 2021, https://www.healthcarestudies.com/Medical-Coding-and-Billing-Certificate/USA/Brighton-College/.